Surgical suction irrigation

ABSTRACT

A surgical irrigation system is suitable for endoscopic and other surgical procedures. A hand held handpiece has a forward protruding hollow tip for supplying irrigation liquid to a surgical site, a hand actuable control for controlling irrigation liquid flow to the tip, and an irrigation liquid inlet. A self contained pumping unit is locatable adjacent a source of irrigation liquid and remote from the handpiece. The pumping unit comprises a housing containing an outlet for irrigation liquid, a pumping member for pumping irrigation liquid through the outlet, a motor for driving the pumping member, and an electric battery assembly for energizing the motor. An elongate tube connects the pumping outlet to the handpiece irrigation liquid inlet for supplying pumped irrigation liquid to the handpiece.

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/502,708, filedJul. 14, 1995 (now abandoned), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.Ser. No. 08/176,130, filed Dec. 30, 1993 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,402issued Jan. 16, 1996).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a surgical suction and irrigation system, andmore particularly to one adaptable for use in endoscopic surgery.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Stryker Corporation, the assignee of the present invention, filed, Apr.19, 1993, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/049,144, now U.S. Pat. No.5,470,305 disclosing a suction irrigation system in which a handpiece issupplied with irrigation liquid, through an elongate flexible tube, froma remote source. The system includes an electric motor drive pumppowered by a battery pack and controlled by an electric switch. Theelectric switch is on the handpiece and the battery pack is fixed alongthe irrigation liquid tube between the handpiece and irrigation liquidsource, at a point remote from the handpiece. An electric cable extendsbetween the battery pack and handpiece and along the irrigation liquidtube. Such system is marketed under the trademark SURGILAV PLUS (TM).

However, the SURGILAV PLUS (TM) system, while adaptable to a variety ofsurgical uses, was not specifically directed toward endoscopic surgery.Moreover, it differs structurally and operationally in a number ofrespects from the present invention.

A number of other companies market irrigation and suction irrigationsystems. However, the present inventors have not found same to beentirely satisfactory for their purposes.

Therefore, in a continuing effort to improve on surgical suctionirrigation systems, particularly endoscopic suction irrigation systems,the present invention has been developed.

Further objects and purposes of the present invention will be apparentto persons acquainted with apparatus of this general kind, upon readingthe following description and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A surgical irrigation system is suitable for endoscopic and othersurgical procedures. A hand held handpiece has a forward protrudinghollow tip for supplying irrigation liquid to a surgical site, a handactuable control for controlling irrigation liquid flow to the tip, andan irrigation liquid inlet. A self contained pumping unit is locatableadjacent a source of irrigation liquid and remote from the handpiece.The pumping unit comprises a housing containing an outlet for irrigationliquid, a pumping member for pumping irrigation liquid through theoutlet, a motor for driving the pumping member, and an electric batteryassembly for energizing the motor. An elongate tube connects the pumpingoutlet to the handpiece irrigation liquid inlet for supplying pumpedirrigation liquid to the handpiece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, partially broken, somewhat schematic view of asystem embodying the invention.

FIG. 1A is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the bagfitting and pumping unit liquid inlet connector of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 2-4 are exploded pictorial views of the pressure liquid unit ofFIG. 1 taken from three different vantage points of differing height andcircumferential location.

FIG. 5 is a central cross-sectional view of the pressure liquid unit ofFIGS. 1-4 taken on a diametral cutting plane running through the cablespace and indicated generally by the line 5—5 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a central cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but with thediametral cutting plane rotated to cut through a diametrically opposedpair of depending cover tabs, as generally indicated by the line 6—6 inFIG. 2.

FIGS. 7-9 are pictorial views of the cup of FIGS. 2-6, taken fromdifferent viewpoints, to show the bottom of the cup in FIG. 7 and toshow different viewpoints of the interior of the cup in FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 10 is a central cross-sectional view of the cup, substantially astaken on the line 10—10 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the FIG. 10 cup.

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the FIG. 10 cup.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are pictorial views of the locator of FIGS. 2-4, lookingrespectively toward the bottom and top thereof.

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the FIG. 13 locator.

FIG. 16 is a schematic elevational view of the electrical connectionsfor batteries to be carried by the FIG. 13 locator.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary generally schematic view illustrating alocation of battery contacting elements in the FIG. 13 locator.

FIG. 18 is a somewhat schematic fragment of FIG. 6 showing location ofthe motor and battery in the locator of FIG. 13.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary, somewhat schematic, sectional view generallyas taken on the line 19—19 of FIG. 6 and showing a lower batterycontact.

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary, somewhat schematic, sectional view generallyas taken on the line 20—20 of FIG. 6 and showing an upper batterycontact.

FIG. 21 is a pictorial view of the motor of FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 is a schematic representation of the electrical circuit of theFIG. 1 system.

FIGS. 23-25 are pictorial views of the pumping chamber cover of theFIGS. 2-4 apparatus, taken from the underside in FIGS. 23 and 24 andfrom the top in FIG. 25.

FIG. 26 is a side elevational view of the FIG. 23 cover partially brokenon a cutting plane including the central axis of the liquid outlet andcable groove.

FIG. 27 is a pictorial view of the handpiece of FIG. 1 with the useractuated rocker in neutral (rest) position and the guard pin insertedfor packing or shipping.

FIG. 28 is a pictorial view generally similar to FIG. 27 but taken at adifferent angle and omitting the guard pin and the conduit and with therocker tilted forward.

FIG. 29 is an exploded view of the FIG. 21 handpiece drawn in reducedscale and omitting the adapter block at the rear thereof.

FIGS. 30 and 31 are respective top and bottom views of the FIG. 27handpiece.

FIG. 32 is a side elevational view of the FIG. 27 handpiece.

FIGS. 33 and 34 are pictorial views of the irrigation side half shell ofthe FIG. 27 handpiece.

FIG. 35 is a side elevational view, taken from the inside, of the FIG.33 half shell.

FIGS. 36 and 37 are pictorial views of the other half shell of the FIG.27 handpiece.

FIG. 38 is an elevational view of the FIG. 37 half shell.

FIG. 39 is an enlarged pictorial view of the irrigation anvil of FIG.29.

FIGS. 40 and 41 are pictorial views of the suction and irrigation pinchlevers, respectively, of FIG. 29.

FIG. 42 is a pictorial view, taken substantially from the front, of theadapter block of FIG. 32.

FIG. 43 is a plan view taken from above and behind of the FIG. 42adapter block.

FIG. 44 is a pictorial view of the conduit of FIG. 29.

FIG. 45 is a front view of the FIG. 44 conduit.

FIG. 46 is a central cross-sectional view of the FIG. 44 conduit.

FIGS. 47, 48 and 49 are substantially enlarged pictorial views of theU-spring, switch spring and Z-spring, respectively, of FIG. 29.

FIG. 50 is an enlarged pictorial view of a subassembly of the FIG. 29handpiece.

FIG. 51 is an enlarged top view of the FIG. 50 subassembly.

FIG. 52 is an enlarged bottom view of the FIG. 50 subassembly.

FIG. 53 is an elevational view of the handpiece above-referenced, takenfrom the irrigation side, with the guard pin in place but with the rearportion of the guard pin shown only in dotted line to better showinternal handpiece parts located behind it and with the irrigation sidehalf shell removed.

FIGS. 53A and 53B are fragments of FIG. 53 with the irrigation hoseadded and shown in its closed and opened positions respectively.

FIG. 54 is a view similar to FIG. 53 but with the irrigation anvilremoved.

FIG. 55 is a view similar to FIG. 54 but with the irrigation pinch leverremoved to show parts behind it.

FIG. 56 is a view similar to FIG. 55 but with the rocker removed andportions of the U-spring and suction pinch lever removed to better showthe suction tube pinch blade opposing the corresponding anvil surface.

FIGS. 56A and 56B are fragments of FIG. 56 with the suction tube addedand shown in its closed and opened positions respectively.

FIG. 57 is a central cross-sectional view substantially as taken on theline 57—57 of FIG. 31 with the rear portion of the guard pin brokenaway.

FIG. 58 is a view similar to FIG. 57 but showing the entire guard pin inplace.

FIG. 59 is a view similar to FIG. 54 but with the guard pin entirelyomitted and the rocker rocked forward in its irrigation tube openposition (corresponding to FIG. 53B) and the switch contacts 323 and 315engaged to close the battery/motor circuit and energize the motor forpumping irrigation liquid to the handpiece.

FIG. 60 is a view similar to FIG. 59 but with the rocker rocked backwardto open the suction tube as schematically indicated in FIG. 56B.

FIG. 61 is a pictorial view of a modified handpiece embodying theinvention, taken from the top and left side thereof.

FIG. 62 is a pictorial view of the FIG. 61 handpiece taken from thebottom and front thereof with one bottom plug removed.

FIG. 63 is an exploded pictorial view of the FIG. 61 handpiece takenfrom the top, front and right side thereof.

FIG. 64 is a top view of the FIG. 61 handpiece.

FIG. 65 is an enlarged, partially broken, elevational view of a valvemember of FIG. 63.

FIG. 66 is a sectional view substantially taken on the line 66—66 ofFIG. 64.

FIG. 67 is a sectional view substantially taken on the line 67—67 ofFIG. 64.

FIG. 67A is an enlarged fragment of a portion of the bottom rightquadrant of FIG. 67.

FIG. 68 is a top view of the handpiece shell of FIG. 61.

FIG. 69 is a bottom view of the FIG. 68 handpiece shell.

FIG. 70 is a sectional view substantially taken on the line 70—70 ofFIG. 68.

FIG. 71 is a sectional view of FIG. 70.

FIG. 71A is a fragment of the right end portion of FIG. 71 with the FIG.61 tip and an intervening annular seal added and shown in central crosssection.

FIG. 72 is a cross sectional view substantially taken on the line 72—72of FIG. 69.

FIG. 72A is an enlarged fragment of FIG. 72 with the addition offragments of the FIGS. 79 and 80 switch elements added and positioned intheir “off” position.

FIG. 72B is of view similar to FIG. 72A with the switch parts in their“on” position.

FIG. 72C is an enlarged fragmentary pictorial view taken substantiallyfrom the same orientation as FIG. 62 with the bottom of the handpiecehousing opened to show the FIGS. 79 and 80 switch elements in theirinstalled position in the handpiece housing and in their switch “on”position.

FIG. 72D is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view taken generallyfrom the orientation of FIG. 66 to show the switch opening and closingridge in solid line in its switch “on” and in dotted lines in its switch“off” positions.

FIG. 72E is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view looking generallyleftward from the right side of FIG. 72C or substantially on the line72E—72E of FIG. 72D and in solid lines showing the switch “on” and indotted line the switch “off” conditions of the switch elements.

FIG. 73 is an enlarged fragment of FIG. 69 and showing more clearly theswitch carrier plates which depend within the FIG. 61 handpiece housing.

FIG. 74 is an enlarged pictorial view, taken from the bottom and oneside of the suction push button of FIG. 61.

FIG. 75 is a bottom view of the FIG. 74 push button.

FIG. 76 is a sectional view substantially taken on the line 76—76 ofFIG. 75.

FIG. 77 is a pictorial view taken from the bottom and one side thereofof the irrigation liquid push button of FIG. 61.

FIG. 78 is a central cross sectional view of the FIG. 77 push button.

FIG. 79 is an enlarged pictorial view of one of the switch elements ofFIGS. 63 and 72C and 72E.

FIG. 80 is an enlarged pictorial view of the other switch element.

FIG. 81 is a pictorial view of a cap unit usable as an alternative tothe closure plug for closing the rear of the conduit of FIG. 63.

FIG. 82 is an enlarged central cross sectional view of the FIG. 81 capunit installed on the rear end portion of the conduit of the handpiece26D of FIG. 63 in place of the above mentioned closure plug.

FIG. 83 is a central cross sectional view of an improved, low drag,pressure-aided shaft seal.

FIG. 84 is an enlarged fragment of FIG. 5 incorporating the FIG. 83shaft seal.

FIG. 85 is a view similar to FIG. 83 and showing a further modification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The suction irrigation system 10 (FIG. 1) embodying the inventioncomprises a pressure liquid unit 11 having a upstanding liquid inletconnector 12 for direct connection to a liquid outlet connector 13 on aconventional irrigation liquid supply IL. In the example shown in FIG.1, the irrigation liquid supply IL is a conventional irrigation liquidsupply bag 14 and the connector 13 is a conventional luer connector. Ashere shown, the irrigation liquid bag 14 may be conventionally supportedby the usual horizontal arm 15 adjustably fixed on the usual standingpole 16, the arm and pole being, for example, of the kind usuallyemployed to support an IV (intravenous) bottle, irrigation liquid bag,or the like. The pressure liquid unit 11 may be supported from the bag14 simply by interconnection of the respective connectors 12 and 13.Alternately, additional support means may be employed, such as a strap(not shown) fixed in any convenient way to the outside of the pressureliquid unit 11 and to the arm 15. Alternatively, the pressure liquidunit 11 may be supported by a conventional bracket 18 conventionallyclamped at 19 to the pole 16, and encircling the pressure liquid unit 11snugly, as indicated generally at 20. The pressure liquid unit 11pressurizes irrigation liquid tube 23 (FIG. 3) which is flexible andruns at length (for example 6-12 feet) to a handpiece 26 to be grippedand controlled by a user, typically a surgeon or surgical assistant. Anelectric cable 27 is comparable in length to the tube 23 and runs withit from the pressure liquid unit 11 to the handpiece 26. The cable 27preferably is, for neatness, fixed along the tube 23, for example bylongitudinally spaced conventional clips 32 or longitudinal bonding. Aflexible suction tube 33 runs from the handpiece 26 to a conventionalsuction source SS, such as a conventional hospital operating roomsuction port. The tubes 23 and 33 and cable 27 preferably run to therear end portion 34 of the handpiece 26. The handpiece 26 in theembodiment shown has a rigid tubular tip TP (hereafter described)releasably extending forward from the front end portion 36 thereof fordirection toward a surgical site, either directly or through aconventional endoscopic cannula (a fragment of which is schematicallyindicated at CA in FIG. 1), for performing irrigation and suctionremoval of debris at a surgical site SU.

Pressure Liquid Unit 11

The pressure liquid unit 11 comprises (FIG. 2) a housing generallyindicated at 40, in turn comprising an upward opening cup 41, a motorand battery locator 42 and a pump cover 43.

The cup 41 comprises an open top 50 (FIGS. 7-9), a slightly downwardtapered side/wall 51 and a generally closed bottom wall 52. The bottomwall as an upstepped central motor support drum 53. The drum is ofcircular cross-section. An annular, upward facing, battery receivinggroove 54 is defined radially and coaxially between the cup side walland drum.

The battery and motor locator 42 (FIGS. 6 and 13) comprises a deck 60adapted to seat upon the top edge of the cup side wall 51 andsubstantially close the open top of the cup 41. A finned column 61fixedly coaxially depends from the deck 60. The column comprises ahollow tubular wall 59 defining a downward opening recess 62 locatedcoaxially therein and closed at its top by the deck 60. The finnedexterior of the column 61 is defined by a plurality (here eight forexample) of circular cross-section grooves 63 extending the length ofthe column. The grooves 63 are circumferentially evenly spaced andcircumferentially separated by axial, curved cross-section, ridge-likefins 65 radially outwardly extending from the tubular wall 59. Theradially outermost surface 64 of the column is somewhat tapered downwardin correspondence to the taper of the sidewall 51 of the cup. Thecircular cross-section grooves 63 have axes similarly convergentdownward toward the central axis of the locator 42 (and thus toward thecentral axis of the recess 62 and deck 60). The grooves 63 thus havebottom portions which cut into the recess 62 at the arched notches 66.The column 61 is sized to depend snugly into the cup 41, with the deck60 mounted atop the side wall 51 of the cup. In this installed position,the bottom of the hollow column 61 extends down into the annular groove54 between the drum and side wall of the cup and the drum 53 is snuglybut slidably received upward into the bottom portion of the centralrecess 62 of the locator. With the locator 42 installed in the cup 41,the fins 65 have their bottom ends 67 (FIGS. 5 and 6) spaced above thebottom wall 52 of the cup 41.

The locator 42 and cup 41, when assembled, are intended to locatetherewithin in a circumferential array, plural (here eight) conventionalAA batteries B (FIGS. 17 and 18), one in each of the circumferentiallydistributed grooves 63 of the locator, and a battery powered motor M inthe recess 62.

The motor M is, in the embodiment shown, shaped generally as a rightcircular cylinder with coaxially protruding top and bottom bosses 70 and71. A shaft 72 extends coaxially up through the top boss 70 and isrotatable with respect thereto. See particularly FIGS. 5 and 21. Themotor M is snugly but slidably received up into the recess 62 of thelocator 42 with its shaft 72 extending up through a coaxial hole 73 inthe deck 60. A conventional annular seal 74 (FIG. 5) recessed in the topof the deck 60, admits the shaft 72 rotatably upwardly therethrough butprevents liquid leakage therepast downward along the shaft toward thetop of boss 70. The motor M is coaxially located in the recess 62 bysnug reception of its top boss 70 in a down facing central recess 75 inthe deck 60, and its bottom boss 71 in a central opening 76 in the topof the drum 53 (FIGS. 7 and 8).

The top and sides of the drum 53 are cut by three evenlycircumferentially spaced pairs of parallel slots 80 communicating withthe central opening 76. The parallel slots 80 of each pair definetherebetween a generally L-shaped segment 81 of the drum top and sidewalls. The upper and radially inner ends of the three segments 81 areenlarged in cross-section to define corresponding circumferentiallyspaced rim parts 82 which together define the central opening 76 throughthe top of the drum. As seen in FIG. 10, the rim parts 82 are slightlywedge-shaped, to converge downwardly slightly and thereby tend to centertherebetween, in wedging fashion, the bottom boss 71 of the motor M. TheL-shaped segments 81, being separated from the rest of the drum 53 bythe flanking slots 80, can resiliently deflect, in the manner of a leafspring, to snugly grip the bottom boss 71 of the motor M and therebyfirmly and fixedly center the motor M coaxially with respect to the cup41 and locator 42.

Electrically conductive spring wire, upper contacts 86 (FIGS. 16, 17, 18and 20) each comprise a generally straight bight flanked by integralcoil compression spring portions 88 of frustoconical profile. Theprofile of each coil spring portions 88 tapers downwardly as seen inFIGS. 17 and 18. The bight 87 and widened base of each spring portion 88is backed by the underside of the deck 60. The coil spring portions 88each are snugly frictionally gripped by the surrounding fins 65 tofirmly hold each upper contact 86 axially against the underside of thedeck 60. The upper contacts 86 are easily installed on the column 61 byplacing same in registry with the bottom end 67 (FIG. 14) of thecorresponding fin 65 and then sliding same there along upwardly intocontact with the underside of the deck 60.

Conductive, flat plate, lower contacts 92 (FIGS. 16-19) each comprise apair of circumferentially spaced circular disks 93 connected by anintegral circumferentially extending strap 94. In one of the lowercontacts 92, the strap 94 is cut in the middle to form respectiveterminal tabs 94A (FIGS. 17 and 19) for connection of the batteries B,in circuit with the motor M and a switch SW hereafter described. Thedisks 93 are respectively fixedly located coaxially with the grooves 63of the column 61 but are spaced below the column 61 to lie fixedly atopthe bottom wall 52 of the cup 41, within the annular groove 54 thereof.The disks 93 are fixed atop the cup bottom wall 52 by any convenientmeans.

In one unit constructed according to the present invention, the lowercontacts 92 were installed in a particularly advantageous manner whileproducing the cup 41 by injection molding. As seen in FIG. 12, thebottom wall 52 of the cup 51 is perforated by circumferentially spacedlarge and small holes 52L and 52S respectively. Same are left by wideand narrow mold pins (not shown) upstanding from a (not shown) moldfloor underlying the bottom wall 52 (FIG. 10) of the cup 41 when formingsame by molding. Eight of the conductive circular disks 93 (FIG. 19)were continuously connected in a circle by the straps 94 and supportedjust above the mold floor by the wide mold pins which produce the largerdiameter holes 52L above-mentioned. Plastic material injected into themold filled the area between the disks 93 and mold bottom to form thecup bottom wall 52 against the underside of the disks 93. Insertion of atool up through the small holes 52S break the straps 94 locatedthereabove to leave four pairs of disks 93 unconnected by straps, with astrap 94 between the disks 93 of each pair, as in FIGS. 16 and 19.

In the embodiment shown, the motor M requires a nominal 12-volt DC powersupply. Accordingly, it is appropriate to provide eight batteries B ofthe nominal 1½ volt inexpensive, commercially available AA type. In viewof their long shelf life and relatively high power storage capabilityand capability to supply adequate voltage until nearly fully discharged,alkaline batteries are preferred.

In the embodiment shown, the motor M has a pair of electrical contactsMC protruding from the bottom thereof and electrically energizable forrotating the motor shaft. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11,circumferential extensions 83 of the slots 80 are diametrically opposedin the top of the drum 53 and the electric contacts MC of motor M extenddownwardly therethrough for electrical connection in circuit with thebatteries B and the switch SW hereafter described.

Circumferentially spaced ribs 95 (FIG. 8) extend upward along andprotrude radially in on the sidewall 51 of the cup 41 and closelyradially oppose corresponding ones of the fins 65 of the locator 42.However, the radially outer part of the one of the fins 65 iseliminated, as indicated at 65A in FIG. 13, and its correspondingupstanding cup rib 95 is eliminated, leaving a cable space 96 radiallytherebetween. Electric cable 27 (FIG. 5) extends through this cablespace 96, substantially vertically along the cup sidewall 51 and exitsup through a cable port 101 in the deck 60 near the edge thereof anddown through a cable port 102 in the bottom wall 52 of the cup 41. Theelectric cable 27 here incorporates two insulated electric wiresgenerally indicated at 103.

The cover 43 (FIGS. 2-6 and 23-26) includes a downwardly opening dome110, a radially outward extending bottom flange 112 and the inletconnector 12. The inlet connector 12 takes the form of a hollow spigotupstanding from the top of the dome 110 and, as seen in FIG. 6, providesan irrigation liquid inlet conduit down through the top of the dome 110and into a pump chamber 113 occupying the upper part of the dome 110. Arecess 114 (FIG. 5) is stepped radially outward slightly from the pumpchamber 113 and extends downward therefrom through the bottom of thecover 43. The central portion of the deck 60 (FIGS. 2 and 6) protrudesupward to form a relatively large diameter, generally cylindrical plug115 which is received snugly upward into the downwardly opening recess114 of the dome 110. A resilient, annular seal 116 (FIG. 6) is trappedvertically between axially opposed steps adjacent the top of the recess114 and plug 115 to seal the bottom of the pump chamber 113. Apreferably conventional centrifugal pump rotor 117 (FIGS. 5 and 6) isfixed coaxially atop the motor shaft 72 in the pump chamber 113. Themotor shaft 72 and pump rotor 117 are preferably coaxial with the liquidinlet 12. An outlet passage 120 extends tangentially from the pumpchamber 113 within a tangential extension 121 (FIG. 2) of the dome 110and has an enlarged diameter outlet recess 122 adapted to fixedlysealingly receive therein the end of the irrigation liquid tube 23 asseen for example in FIG. 2, to pump irrigation liquid into the tube 23.

Immediately beneath the outlet recess 122 in the tangential domeextension 121 is a downwardly and radially outwardly opening groove 123which is blind at its radially inner end. With the cover fixed in itsproper location atop the locator 42, the blind groove opens downwardinto the upper cable port 101 in the deck 60 of the locator 42, to routethe cable 27 (FIG. 5) upward and radially outward and away from thepressure liquid unit 11 and along the path of the irrigation liquid tube23, as generally indicated in FIG. 1.

The cup 41 and locator 42 and cover 43 are fixed together, preferably bysnap fit connections, as follows. The deck 60 (FIG. 4) has an upwardlyand downwardly thickened rim 124. Radially inboard from the rim 124, thedeck 60 is axially punctured by circumferentially extending,circumferentially spaced slots 125 and 126. The slots 125 alternatecircumferentially with the slots 126.

Circumferentially spaced, generally L-profile tabs 130 each dependslightly bendably from the perimeter edge of the cover 43 and insertdownward into a respective slot 125 in the deck 60. Each tab 130 has aradially outward extending lip 131 (FIGS. 4 and 6) which snaps radiallyoutward under the deck rim 124 to hold the cover 43 fixed downwardfirmly against the deck 60 of the locator 42.

The slots 126 each have a circumferentially extending step 132 upsetradially inward from the rim 124 near the bottom of such slot 126, asindicated for example in FIGS. 4 and 13. Circumferentially spaced tabs133 extend up from the sidewall 51 of the cup 41 and are generallyL-shaped, each having a shallow radially outward extending lip 134. Thetabs 133 are circumferentially in register with the remaining slots 126in the locator deck 60. Upon bringing the cup 41 upward coaxially towardthe deck 60, the tops of the tabs 133 enter the slots 126. As the top ofthe cup 51 moves into contact with the underside of the deck 60, the tablips 134 each advance upward past, and are deflected resilientlyradially inward by, the corresponding step 132 to snap over such step132.

In this way, the tabs 130 and 133, properly lodged in their slots 125and 126 maintain the cup 41, locator 42 and cover 43 rigidly fixed inassembled relation, as seen in FIG. 1, together.

While the cup 51, locator 42 and cover 43 may be of any desired rigidmaterial and manufactured in any desired way it is convenient to moldsame each in one piece, of a conventional plastics material.

A circular, disk-like label of generally rigid material, such ascardboard, styrofoam, or the like, fits snugly up into the downwardopening recess 55 (FIG. 3) defined by downward extension of the sidewall51 a short distance below the bottom wall 52. Such label may be fixed inplace as a last step in the assembly operation, by adhesive bonding orby press fit upward into the recess 55 due to the slight downward taperof the cup side wall 51. A suitable disk is indicated at 56 in FIGS. 4and 5. The disk 56 can be used to cover holes in the bottom wall 52 andwiring between the cable 27 and motor contacts MC and battery lowercontacts 93. Such disk 56 could also be used as a label for describingthe product, usage and warnings regarding misuse.

The spring wire upper contacts 86 and lower contact disks 93 are locatedto connect the eight batteries B in series, as seen in FIG. 16 and asschematically indicated at 8×B in the FIG. 22 circuit diagram. Theseries battery connection 8×B is in turn connected in series loop(through the endmost disks 93) with the motor M (through its contactsMC) and (through the conductors 103 of the cable 27) with the manuallyactuable switch SW (hereafter described, in the handpiece 26) as shownin FIG. 22.

Handpiece 26

The handpiece 26 comprises an outer shell conveniently defined byopposed concave half shells 200S and 200I located respectively on thesuction and irrigation sides of the handpiece, as generally indicated inFIGS. 27-29. In the finished handpiece, the edges 201 of the half shell200S overlap edges 202 of the half shell 200I (FIGS. 33-38) and arefixed thereto by any convenient means such as conventional snapfitconnections 203 and 204 respectively, or by adhesive bonding, or thelike.

An elongate rigid conduit 210 extends longitudinally through the lowerportion of the shell 200 and has front and rear end portions 211 and 212which respectively protrude forwardly and rearwardly through front andrear openings 213 and 214 respectively in the substantially radial frontwall and in the somewhat downward angled rear end portion 268 of theshell 200 (FIGS. 29 and 57). Longitudinally spaced ribs 217 in the halfshells 200S and 200I radially fix conduit 210 therein. Transverselyextending tabs 220 (FIGS. 44 and 45) fixed on the conduit 210 arereceived in ports 221 (FIGS. 35 and 38) opening toward each other in thehalf shells 200S and 200I to locate the conduit longitudinally fixedlyin the shell 200, as seen for example in FIG. 29.

Conventionally annularly ribbed, hollow, tubular suction and irrigationfittings 222I and 222S (FIG. 29) rigidly connect to the front portion211 of the rigid conduit 210 inside the shell 200, adjacent the frontwall 215 thereof as seen in FIG. 53. The fittings 222S and 222I divergeupwardly and angle rearwardly for fixed securement thereon of respectiveresiliently pressurably closeable, normally open hoses 224S and 224I(FIG. 29).

The downward and rearward angled rear opening 214 of the shell 200 isnormally occupied by an adapter block 225 (FIGS. 42, 43, 53 and 57)fixed into the rear opening 214 (FIG. 53) of the shell 210 duringassembly of the two half shells 200S and 200I. More particularly, theadapter block 225 (FIGS. 42 and 43) has laterally protruding, partiallycircumferentially extending, locator ribs 226 fixed thereon. Reception,during assembly of the half shells together, of the ribs 226 snuglybetween a forward/rearward spaced pair of further ribs 227 (FIGS. 35 and37) circumferentially extending in the rear end portion 212 of the halfshells 200S and 200I, fixes the adapter block 225 within the shell 200.The adapter block further comprises a laterally spaced pair of generallyupwardly and forwardly aimed, externally ribbed fittings 230S and 230I(FIGS. 42 and 43) for receiving thereon, in fixed liquid tight coupledrelation, the rear ends of the pinchable hoses 224S and 224Irespectively. The fittings 230S and 230I are similar in form to thefittings 222S and 222I above discussed. Passages indicated in brokenlines at 231 extend from the open front of the fittings 230S and 230Irearward through the adapter block and open through the rear end face232 thereof and are adapted to fixedly and nonleakingly receive, in anyconventional manner not shown, the front ends of the suction tube 33 andirrigation liquid tube 23, as indicated in FIGS. 42 and 43.

The rear end portion 212 of the rigid conduit 210 may be closed by a cap233 (FIG. 32) releasably secured thereon, by any convenient means suchas threads. Alternatively, the cap 233 may be removed to enableinsertion forwardly through the conduit 210 of an elongate instrument,or other aid to surgery, whose front end is to be positioned adjacentthe surgical site.

The hollow cylindrical tip TP (FIG. 53) is mountable removably on thefront end portion 211 of the rigid conduit 210. An O-ring 234 or thelike in an annular groove 235 in the conduit sealingly engages thehollow tip TP fixedly to the front end of the conduit 210.

The rear end portion 212 of the rigid conduit 210 passes snugly, butslidably, rearward through a central hole 236 in the adapter block 225(see FIGS. 42, 43 and 57).

A transverse shaft 240 (FIG. 29) extends across the interior of theshell 200 and has its ends fixed in transversely opposed, tubular bosses241 (FIGS. 29, 35 and 38). The shaft 240 is located about mid-height inthe shell 200.

An irrigation pinch lever 242 and a suction pinch lever 243 (FIG. 29)are located on the shaft 240, adjacent the irrigation half shell 200Iand suction half shell 200S respectively. The pinch levers each have midportions pivoted on the shaft 240 and each extends forward and rearwardfrom the shaft. As seen in FIGS. 40 and 41 the levers 242 and 243 eachhave a through bore 244 for pivoting on the shaft 240 a round edgedpinch blade 245 extending from one side thereof adjacent the bore 244,and a pair of tabs 246 and 247 extending from the other side thereof atrespective opposite ends thereof. In the embodiment shown, the tabs 246are flat and the tabs 247 are domed. In the preferred embodiment shown,the pinch levers 242 and 243 differ only in that the domed tab 247 ofthe irrigation pinch lever 242 is somewhat flattened, as seen at 248(FIG. 41). As seen in FIG. 29, the pinch levers 242 and 243 are eachassembled on the shaft 240 so that the elongate pinch edge 249 of theblade 245 faces upward but wherein the two pinch blades 245 extendlaterally away from each other and toward their respective half shells200S and 200I. Thus, the pinch levers 242 and 243 are oriented on theshaft 240 such that their respective tabs 247 and 246 are forwardmost(leftwardmost in FIG. 29).

A resilient metal U-spring 252 (FIGS. 29 and 47) of springy sheet metalcomprises a U-shaped portion 253 comprising a pair of legs 254 dependingfrom a bight 255. Holes 256 through the lower portion of the legs 254receive the shaft 240 to pivotly locate the U-spring 252 on the shaft240 snugly between the pinch levers 242 and 243 and with the bight 255spaced up above the shaft 240. A leaf spring-like arm 257 extendsrearward and downward from the bight 255. The free end portion 258 ofthe arm 257 is bent sharply to extend forward and somewhat upwardbetween the legs 254 in spaced relation between the bight 255 and holes256.

A coil torsion spring 261 (FIG. 29) comprises a central portion 262wrapped around the shaft 240 between the U-spring legs 254 and fromwhich central portion extends a pair of generally rearwardly extendingelongate legs 263I and 263S which are vertically trapped between andresiliently urge vertically apart the rear tabs 246 and 247 of the pinchlevers 242 and 243 (FIGS. 52 and 53).

A rigid, preferably unitary, anvil 270 (FIGS. 29 and 39) comprises afore/aft extending bar 271 locatable between the half shells 200S and200I (FIG. 29) and spaced above the shaft 240. At the rear end portionof the bar 271, a horizontal shaft 272 (FIG. 39) extends toward the halfshell 200S. The bar is widened toward the half shell 200I to form adownwardly stepped, downwardly facing anvil surface 273. A hole 274 inthe rear end portion of the bar 271 is coaxial with the shaft 272 andfaces in the opposite direction, namely toward the half shell 200I. Thebar 271 is generally L-shaped, as seen from above, having a leg 275aimed toward the half shell 200S and terminating in a pin 276. In theassembled handpiece 26, the anvil 270 is fixed with respect to halfshell 200S by entry of the free end of its shaft 272 and the pin 276into corresponding holes 280 and 281 in, and adjacent the top of, thehalf shell 200S (FIGS. 29, 37 and 38) and by entry of a pin 282 (FIGS.34 and 35), fixed within the opposite half shell 200I just below the topthereof, into the opposed hole 274 in the rear portion of the anvil 270.In this manner, the anvil 270 is firmly fixed within the assembled shell200. The anvil 270 is spaced above the irrigation pinch lever 242, withits down facing anvil surface 273 directly opposing the upfacing pinchedge 249 of the pinch blade 245 of the irrigation pinch lever 242 (FIGS.52 and 53) for coaction therewith in pinching and unpinching theirrigation hose 224I which is routed therebetween.

A further anvil, which may termed the suction anvil, 283 (FIGS. 29, 37and 56) is fixed in and preferably formed integrally with the half shell200S and has a down facing anvil surface 284 underlying the upper shafthole 280 and at about the same height as the anvil surface 273cooperating with the irrigation pinch lever 242 above-described. Thedown facing anvil surface 284 overlies and cooperates with the upfacingpinch blade edge 249 of the suction pinch lever 243 for pinching andunpinching the suction hose 224S routed therebetween.

A hand actuable rocker 290 (FIG. 29) comprises a generally box-like body291 (FIG. 50) having parallel upstanding side walls 292 and convexlyrounded, upwardly converging front and rear end walls 293. The body 291includes a relatively large, generally rectangular, downwardly openingrecess 294 (FIG. 57). The body 291 extends down through an opening 295in the top of the shell 200. The body is topped by fixed, preferablyintegral, divergently angled, front and rear push pads 296 and 297.

The recess 294 of the rocker 290 receives upwardly thereinto the upperportion of the U-shaped part 253 of the U-spring 252, the top of theU-shaped part 253 being spaced below the top of the recess 294 in therocker. The upper (anvil) shaft 272 (FIGS. 29 and 57) extends laterallythrough holes 300 in the sides 292 (FIG. 50) of the rocker 290. Theanvil shaft 272 also extends through aligned holes 301 in the upperparts of the U-spring legs 254 (FIG. 56). As a result, the U-spring issubstantially fixed in place with respect to the shell 200 by passage ofthe upper and lower shafts 272 and 240 therethrough and the rocker 290(FIG. 57) is pivoted on the anvil shaft 272 for rocking forwardly andrearwardly (clockwise or counterclockwise in the drawing) about theanvil shaft 272.

As seen in FIG. 57, the forwardly and upwardly angled front end portion258 of the U-spring 252 lies within the downward opening recess 294 ofthe rocker 290 and at its forward extremity (left extremity in FIG. 57)is fixed to the front wall 293 of the rocker 292 by any convenientmeans, such as by being molded integrally with the rocker 290. TheU-spring 252 is arranged to resiliently urge the rocker 290 to itscentral, horizontal position shown in FIG. 57 and to resiliently resist,but permit, forward and rearward (in FIG. 57 counterclockwise andclockwise) rocking of the rocker 290 by the user.

The rocker 290 is pivotable forward (counterclockwise in FIG. 57) topush the bottom edge of its front wall 293 down against irrigation leverfront tab 247, correspondingly counterclockwise rotate the irrigationpinch lever 242, cause its pinch blade 245 to drop away from thecorresponding irrigation hose 224I, and thus open the irrigation hose224I, as in the transition from FIG. 53A to FIG. 53B. Alternately, therocker 290 is pivotable rearward (clockwise in FIG. 57) to push thebottom edge of the rear wall 293 of the rocker 290 downward (clockwise)against the rear tab 247 of the suction pinch lever 243, correspondinglypivot same clockwise, drop its pinch blade 245 away from thecorresponding suction hose 224S, and thus open the suction hose 224S, asin the transition from FIG. 56A to FIG. 56B.

In the preferred embodiment shown, the electrical switch SW of thehandpiece 26 is formed by a switch spring 310 and a Z-spring 311, seenin FIGS. 48 and 49 respectively. Both are formed of resilientlydeflectable, electrically conductive, sheet metal. The switch spring 310comprises a base plate 312 having a free end provided with gripper tabs313 reflexly bent, a generally L profile female electric terminal 314and a switch contact arm 315. Similarly, the Z-spring 311 (FIG. 49)comprises a base plate 320 whose free end is provided with gripper tabs321, a generally L-shaped planar electric terminal 322, and a generallyZ-shaped switch contact 323. The half shell 200S (FIGS. 37 and 38), tothe rear of the tubular boss 241, comprises rear and front lateralrecesses 325 and 324 respectively which open toward the opposite halfshell 200I and are shaped to receive the gripper tab equipped, free endportions of the base plates 312 and 320 of the switch spring 310 andZ-spring 311, respectively. The switch spring and Z-spring are orientedso that their electric terminals 314 and 322 extend rearwardly (FIG. 57)and so that their switch contacts 315 and 323 respectively extendupwardly and forwardly. The top of the switch contact 323 is normallyspaced slightly in front of the top portion of the switch contact 315.See also FIGS. 51 and 52.

Fixed low on the rear of the rocker 290 and extending slightly rearwardtherefrom is a preferably integral switch actuator foot 326 (FIG. 53)arranged so that forward (counterclockwise) tilting of the rocker 290not only opens the irrigation tube 224 by dropping the pinch blade 245(in the transition from FIG. 53A to FIG. 53B), but also pivots the foot326 (FIG. 59) upward and rearward, to push the switch contact 323 of theZ spring 311 rearwardly into electrical contact with the switch contact315 of the switch spring 310. This closes the switch SW constituted bycontacts 315 and 323, and, through their terminals 314 and 322, closesthe electrical circuit (FIG. 22) through the motor M and array ofbatteries B to energize the motor and force irrigation liquid throughthe flexible irrigation hose 224I and then forwardly through the tip TPto a surgical site.

On the other hand, rocking the rocker 290 rearward (clockwise in FIGS.56 and 60) drops the pinch blade 245 of the suction pinch lever 243 toopen the suction tube 224 (in the transition from FIG. 56A to 56B) toallow suction flow from the tip back to a suction source SS.

Note that only one of the pinchable hoses 224I and 224S can be opened ata time. Note also that opening of the irrigation hose 224I isautomatically and positively correlated with closure of the switch SW,so as to begin pumping liquid forward through the open irrigation tube224I.

To avoid closure of the switch SW (and resulting energization of themotor M, wear on the parts and depletion of the batteries), after thehandpiece is assembled and prior to packaging for shipping, a guard pin330 (FIG. 29) has its square cross-section, elongate shank 331 insertedrearwardly through a hole 332 in front wall 333 of the shell (FIGS.27-29). The guard pin shank 331 (FIG. 58) extends through the front wallhole 332 rearward into the shell 200 snugly under the front and rearwalls 293 of the rocker 290 to positively prevent pivoting of the rocker290 and thereby preventing closure of the electric switch contacts 315and 323. In addition, the guard pin shank 331 pushes downward, undertheir normal hose clamping positions, the tabs 247 of both pinch levers242 and 243, so as to hold open and thus unstressed the hoses 224I and224S during shipping and storage. FIGS. 53-58 show the parts in thisstorage position, with the guard pin shank 331 in solid line in FIG. 58and in dotted line (to better show parts behind it in the drawings) inFIGS. 53-57. A shield 335 depends from the shank 331 near the ring 334to partly cover and protect, during storage and shipping, the open frontend of the conduit 210.

When the apparatus is ready for use, the guard pin 330 is withdrawn fromthe handpiece by forward pull on a finger ring 334 (FIG. 29) fixed onthe front end of the shank 331.

Except for the springy conductive metal spring elements 252, 261, 310and 311, and the resiliently pinchable hoses 224I and 224S, theremaining primary parts of the handpiece are formed of a suitable rigidmaterial, by any convenient means, such as molding of a rigid plasticsmaterial.

While the operation of the disclosed apparatus will be clear from theabove description, same may, for convenience, be briefly summarized asfollows. To operate the disclosed apparatus, the inlet connector 12 ofthe pumping unit 11 is inserted in the corresponding fitting of anirrigation liquid supply (e.g. bag) IL and the pumping unit 11 issupported therebelow by means above discussed. The guard pin 330 ispulled from the handpiece 26. The tip TP of the handpiece 26 is insertedinto a surgical site SU in a patient, e.g. through a cannula CApreviously inserted thereinto.

Rocking the rocker 290 forward to its FIG. 1 position opens theirrigation hose 224I (FIG. 29) and closes the contacts of the switch SW(FIG. 22), energizing the motor and rotating the pump rotor 117 (FIG.6). Insertion of the pumping unit inlet connector 12 directly into theirrigation liquid bag 14 has substantially instantaneously primed thepumping chamber with irrigation liquid so that rotation of the pumprotor 117 substantially instantaneously pumps irrigation liquid underpressure through the tube 23 (FIG. 1) through the handpiece 26, namelythrough the adapter block 225 (FIG. 42), hose 224I, conduit 210 and tipTP to the surgical site SU. On the other hand, rocking the rocker 290rearward (to its FIG. 60 position) closes the hose 224I and opens thehose 224S for suctioning debris from the surgical site through the tipTP, conduit 210, open suction hose 224S, adapter 225 and suction hose 33to a conventional suction source SS. Release of the rocker 290 causes itto resiliently center itself in its neutral FIG. 27 position, in whichboth the suction and irrigation hoses 224S and 224I respectively areclamped closed by their respective pinch levers 243 and 242.

The disclosed suction irrigation system 10 is totally disposable andmanufacturable at relatively low cost. Upon insertion of the inlet flowconnector 12 into the irrigation liquid source IL, and pulling out ofthe guard pin 330, the system 10 is ready for immediate use. The systemprovides a high flow rate of irrigation liquid (higher than usual for adisposable system). The flow rate is steady so as not to make tissuejump at the surgical site, as might a pulsed irrigation system. Locationof motor, pump and batteries remotely from the handpiece, adjacent theirrigation liquid source IL, not only provides for substantiallyinstantaneous priming of the pump but also permits a compact, verylightweight, and hence readily maneuverable handpiece 26.

In one unit built according to the invention, the connector 13 (FIGS. 1and 1A) on the liquid supply container 14 was a conventional luer femalefitting. The liquid inlet connector 12 was provided with an annular rib12A (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4-6) adjacent its upper end to snapfit into the bagfitting 13 forcibly enough to support the weight of the pumping unit 11(and its trailing hose 23 and cable 27) pendently from the container 14,yet allow the pumping unit 11 to be intentionally disconnected from thecontainer 14 by pulling same apart more forcibly. Thus, the pumping unit11 with its trailing hose 23 and cable 27 can be entirely supportedpendently from the liquid supply container 14 by connection of itshollow spike 12 to the container fitting 13, or can instead be supportedby separate means, exemplified by the bracket 18 of FIG. 1.

Modification

FIG. 61 and onward disclose a modified handpiece 26D. In some instances,parts of the modified handpiece 26D will carry the same referencenumerals as corresponding parts of the above described handpiece 26 withthe suffix D added thereto.

It will be understood that the handpiece 26D may be used in a variety oforientations, for example in the FIG. 61 orientation, in an orientationturned upside down therefrom as in FIG. 69, or in other orientations asdesired and convenient. However, for convenience in reference, in thepresent discussion the words “top” and “bottom” shall refer to thehandpiece 26D in its orientation of FIG. 61.

The handpiece 26D comprises a shell 400. The shell 400 preferablyincludes an inverted tub 401. The shell 400 preferably is a one-piecemolded rigid plastic element. The inverted tub 401 comprises upstanding,front and rear valve barrels 402 and 403 laterally spaced from eachother and joined by preferably tangent side walls 404 and 405 (FIG. 68).The inverted tub 401 further includes a top wall 410 which closes thetop of the inverted tub 401 and extends between the barrels 402 and 403and side walls 404 and 405 (FIGS. 68 and 70). Top extensions 411 and 412of the front and rear valve barrels 402 and 403 respectively extend uppast the top wall 410. A pair of switch carrier plates 413 and a furtherpair of switch carrier plates 414 (FIGS. 72 and 73) depend from the topwall 410 into the downward opening cavity 415 of the inverted tub 401.The plates 413 and 414 are parallel to each other and preferablyparallel to the side walls 404 and 405. The plates 413 and 414 arespaced inboard from the side walls 404 and 405 respectively. The platepairs 413 and 414 are spaced apart on opposite sides of the commondiametral plane of the barrels 402 and 403. Relatively narrow switchmounting gaps 420 and 421 laterally space apart the respective completepairs 413 and 414 (seen for example in FIG. 73). A hole 422 (preferablyT-shaped as in FIGS. 67 and 73) opens through the top wall 410 into thecavity 415 of the inverted tub 401. The cross-head portion of the T liesclose adjacent the top extension 411 of the front valve barrel 402 andthe leg of the T extends rearward therefrom and overlies the switchmounting gap 420 (FIG. 73) in vertical alignment therewith.

The shell 400 includes an elongate rigid conduit 430 (FIG. 61) which ispreferably integrally molded in the tub side wall 404 adjacent the topthereof (here substantially flush with the top wall 410). The conduit430 extends forwardly and rearwardly beyond the inverted tub 401, asseen for example in FIGS. 61 and 71 and has front and rear end portions431 and 432 spaced from the inverted tub 401. In the preferredembodiment shown, the front end portion 431 of the conduit 430 isradially enlarged and carries an annular seal ring groove 434 (FIGS. 70and 70A) for receiving a resilient seal ring (e.g. an O-ring 437) and anexternally threaded front end extremity 435 for sealed, releasable,telescoped attachment thereon of an elongate tubular tip TPD of anydesired type for suction, irrigation or other use at a surgical site. Inthe preferred embodiment shown, the radially enlarged rear end portion432 of conduit 430 is internally threaded at 436 (FIG. 70) foralternative reception therein of an externally threaded closure plug 440(FIGS. 61 and 63) or a suitable surgical tool (not shown). The closureplug 440 preferably is provided with an annular seal, such as an O-ring442 (FIG. 63), behind its externally threaded front extremity 443 forsealing the rear end of the conduit 430 against fluid leakage, whenthreadedly inserted into the rear end portion 432 of the conduit 430.

As seen in FIG. 71, the conduit 430 has a through passage 441 axially,and preferably coaxially, extending therethrough and opening through thefront and rear end portions 431 and 432. Suitable surgical tools (notshown) may be inserted forwardly through the rear end portion 432 orrearwardly into the front end portion 431 of the conduit 430. Suchsurgical tools may include ones of the type having substantially coaxialinner and outer parts, wherein the inner part may be received in thethrough passage 441 and the outer part may be threaded onto theexternally threaded front extremity 435 in a conventional manner, and inplace of a tip TPD. The conduit 430 alternately will also accommodatesurgical tools (not shown) of the type having a portion similar to theplug 440 with a forward extending portion (not shown) insertableforwardly through the through passage 441 and the conduit 430 toward asurgical site. In addition, it is contemplated that the front endportion 431 and rear end portion 432 of the conduit 430 may be providedwith removable adaptors (not shown) to present an external threadadjacent the rear end portion 432 and/or an internal thread adjacent thefront end portion 431, should it be desired to use an externallythreaded tip in place of the tip TPD of FIG. 61 or an internallythreaded tool portion adjacent the rear end portion 432 of the conduit430. Alternately, adaptors, not shown, may be threaded onto the frontend portion 431 and/or into the rear end portion 432 for the purpose ofproviding a non-threaded connection of a tip or tool thereto.

The shell 400 further includes integral irrigation liquid and suctionfittings (or nipples) 450 and 451 respectively (FIGS. 61, 68 and 70),which extend generally rearwardly at an acute angle (here about 22° andpreferably between 15° and 30°) to the side wall 405 of the inverted tub401 and conduit 430. The fittings 450 and 451 have respective coaxialthrough passages 452 and 453 respectively, whose central length axes areparallel to each other and are coplanar with the central length axis ofthe conduit 430. The central through passages 452 and 453 extendcoaxially, and generally forwardly, from the nipples 450 and 451respectively, just below the top wall 410 of the inverted tub 401, andperpendicularly across the valve barrels 402 and 403 respectively, andhave forward ends into the central through passage 441 of the conduit430. The central length axes of the irrigation and suction passages 452and 453 perpendicularly intersect respective upstanding length axes ofupstanding coaxial through openings 454 and 455 respectively of thefront and rear valve barrels 402 and 403 respectively (compare FIGS. 70and 71, for example). The nipples 450 and 451 thus communicate throughthe upstanding central through openings (or valve bores) 454 and 455respectively of the front and rear valve barrels 402 and 403respectively, and thereacross with the central through opening of theconduit 430. Such communication is controlled by valve bodies hereafterdescribed.

The nipples 450 and 451, as can be seen from the drawings, are on theopposite side of the inverted tub 401, from the conduit 430. Thus, asabove discussed with respect to FIG. 71, the nipples 450 and 451 areseparated laterally from the conduit 430 by the common central plane ofthe valve barrels 402 and 403 (such common central plane of the valvebarrels 402 and 403 being defined by (containing) the upstanding centralaxis of the valve bores 454 and 455 of the valve barrels.

In the preferred embodiment shown, the front valve barrel 402 isintended to control irrigation liquid flow from the nipple 450 to theconduit 430 and the rear valve barrel 403 is intended to control suctionflow from the conduit 430 to the nipple 451. Accordingly, the nipples450 and 451 are respectively adapted to connect to a suitable irrigationliquid source and suction source respectively. Conveniently then theirrigation liquid nipple 450 is connectable through an irrigation liquidtube 23D supplied by a pump 11D from an irrigation liquid source IL, asdescribed above with respect to the embodiment of FIG. 1 in respect tothe irrigation liquid tube 23, pump 11 and irrigation liquid source IL.Similarly, the suction nozzle 451 is connectable through a suction tube33D to a suction source SS, as above discussed with respect to theembodiment of FIG. 1 in respect to the suction tube 33 and suctionsource SS. The front and rear valve barrels 402 and 403 may thus bereferred to as the irrigation liquid and suction valve barrelsrespectively.

The handpiece 26D (FIG. 63) includes axially shiftable valve members 460and 461 (FIG. 63) respectively cooperable with the valve barrels 402 and403 to accommodate the respective valve members 460 and 461, the valvebores 454 (FIG. 70) and 455. The valve bores 454 and 455 each include abottom cylindrical guide portion 462 (FIG. 70), surmounted by an upwardtapered valve seat 463, and in turn surmounted by a narrower cylindricalvalve guide portion 464. A radially enlarged cylindrical bottom openingrecess 465 communicates between the bottom cylindrical guide portion 462and the bottom of the inverted tub 401, as seen in FIG. 70.

The irrigation liquid and suction through passages 452 and 453 passthrough and are spaced from the top and bottom of their respectiveupwardly tapered valve seats 463 and are thus spaced below thecorresponding narrowed cylindrical valve guide portion 464 and arespaced below their respective narrowed cylindrical valve guide portions464.

As seen in FIG. 63, each valve member 460 and 461 comprises an elongatecylindrical valve piston 470 pierced at its bottom end by a diametralfluid hole 471 and having at about mid-height an annular groove 472 forreceiving an annular seal (conveniently an O-ring) 473 (FIG. 66). Acoaxial multi-sided (here rectangular) top hole 474 (FIG. 63) indentsthe top of each piston 470. A preferably cylindrical rod 475 coaxiallydepends from each piston 470. A coaxial radially outwardly extendingannular flange 476 is fixed at the bottom of each rod 475. A springguide tail 477 coaxially depends from each radial flange 476, and alsoserves as a stop for the corresponding piston 470 at the bottom of itsaxial travel as seen in FIG. 67.

Each valve member 460 and 461 further includes a hollow, resilient,upward tapering, preferably frustoconical valve closure element 482(FIG. 63) snugly fixed on the corresponding rod 475 between the bottomof the corresponding piston 470 and the top of the radial flange 476, asshown in the assembled condition of the valve member (for example thesuction valve member 460 and 461) in FIGS. 66 and 67.

The open bottom of the inverted tub 401 and the bottom opening recesses465 (FIG. 70) are closed by a bottom closure, here comprising alaterally opposed pair of bottom plugs 483 (FIG. 63). The bottom plugs483 are preferably identical and each comprises a generally D-shapedclosure plate 484 and an upward opening cup 485 fixedly upstandingintegrally from the rounded end of the corresponding D-shaped closureplate 484. In the assembled apparatus, the open bottom of the invertedtub 401 is closed by the closure plates 484 of the respective front andrear bottom plugs 483, and the cups 485 are snugly and sealinglytelescoped in and close the open bottoms of the respective front andrear barrels 402 and 403, as generally indicated in FIGS. 63, 67 and 62.Thus, in the embodiment shown, the bottom of the tub 401 is closed (butneed not be sealed) by the plates 484, whereas the bottoms of the frontand rear valve barrels 402 and 403 are plugged and sealed by therespective cups 485 of the bottom plugs 483. The bottom plugs 483 maybe, and preferably are, permanently fixed in the bottom portion of theinverted tub 401 by any convenient means to trap within the valvebarrels the valve members 460 and 461 and trap within the open centralportion of the inverted tub 401 electrical contact structure hereafterdescribed. Permanent entrapment of the valve members 460 and otherstructure within the inverted tub 401, due to permanent fixation of thebottom plugs 483 to the open underside of the tub 401 is preferred whenthe handpiece 26D is a single use disposable item, as intended, ratherthan a multiple use device requiring sterilization between uses.

In the preferred embodiment, sealing of the bottom of each barrel 402,403 is by pressfitting therein of the corresponding cup 485, whichpressfitting also serves to fix the bottom plugs 483 to the inverted tab401.

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 67A, as a backup, or an alternative, theoutside of the cup 485, at a location spaced between its top and bottomends, may be externally annularly grooved to receive an annularresilient seal, preferably a conventional O-ring 486 (FIG. 67A), whereinthe O-ring 486 assists or provides such sealing. While such pressfitting is preferred, the bottom plugs 483 may be fixed to the invertedtub 401 in other ways, for example by sonic welding, adhesive bonding,or the like. Alternately, if desired, the bottom plug pair 483 can becombined into one single port.

Each of the valve members 460 and 461 is resiliently urged into itsupper, closed position (shown for example with respect to the front,irrigation liquid valve member 460 of FIG. 66) by a corresponding coilcompression spring 490 (FIG. 67). In both of the valve members 460 and461, the coil spring 490 is backed at its lower end by the correspondingbottom plug 483. Thus, each spring 490 radially loosely sits in its cup485. The upper end portion of each spring 490 telescopes coaxially onthe depending spring guide tail 477 and abuts the underside of theradial flange 476 of the corresponding valve member 460 or 461. Thesprings 490 thus urge the valve members 460 and 461 to their closed(upper in FIG. 67) positions disconnecting the corresponding one ofnipples 450 and 451 from the conduit 430.

Front and rear (here irrigation liquid and suction, respectively)inverted cup shaped push buttons 491 and 492 are coaxially fixed to thetop of the corresponding front and rear valve pistons 470 (FIGS. 63 and66). A hollow, rectangular cross section, preferably integral stem 493fixedly depends coaxially from the top wall 494 (FIG. 78) and down intothe hollow interior of each inverted cup-shaped push button. Each stem493 depends partway, here about halfway, through the height of theinverted cup shaped push button 491 and 492 and is of non circular (inthe preferred embodiment shown rectangular) cross section for snug,non-rotatable fixed reception in the preferably correspondingcross-section, multi-sided top hole 474 in the corresponding valvepiston 470 (FIG. 63). In this way, each valve piston 470, and hence itsdiametral fluid hole 471 are circumferentially fixed with respect to thecorresponding one of the manual actuable push buttons 491 and 492. Thepush buttons 491 and 492 may be fixed to the tops of their respectivevalve pistons 470 by any convenient means such as adhesive bonding,press fit, or the like.

The push buttons 491 and 492 are snugly but axially reciprocatinglytelescoped over the upstanding top extensions 411 and 412 (FIG. 63) ofthe shell 400. As can be seen from FIGS. 63, 66, 77 and 74, theupstanding, telescoped radially opposed sides of each top extension 411,412 and its corresponding push button 491, 492 are of constant diameter(cylindrical) through its height for snug reciprocating movement of eachpush button 491, 492 on its corresponding upstanding top extension 411,412. The height of the top extensions 411, 412 and push buttons 491, 492are about the same, as seen in FIG. 66. Each corresponding valve piston470 in its uppermost, rest, closed position shown in FIG. 66 protrudesup beyond the top of the corresponding top extension 411 or 412, suchthat with the corresponding valve piston 470 in its uppermost positionas in FIG. 66, the corresponding inverted cup-shaped push button 491,492 is about half telescoped over the corresponding top extension.

The upstanding top extensions 411 and 412 (FIG. 63) each have at leastone upstanding guide groove 495 extending the height thereof and axiallyslidably receiving a corresponding guide rib 496 (FIGS. 74 and 77)fixed, preferably integrally, on the interior of the side wall of therespective push button 491 and 492 for positively preventing rotation ofeach push button 491 and 492 on its upstanding top extension 411 and 412respectively as the push button moves up and down axially along such topextension. The ribs 492 preferably extend the entire height of thecorresponding push buttons 491 and 492 and are complimentary in size andcross sectional shape to the corresponding guide grooves 495 to allowfree relative axial movement but preclude relative circumferentialmovement as between the push buttons and top extensions. Thus, the axialguiding of the ribs 492 in the grooves 495 keeps the valve pistons'diametral fluid holes 471 aligned with the corresponding irrigationliquid and suction through passages 452 and 453 respectively of thenipples 450 and 451 respectively. In the preferred embodiment shown,diametrally opposed pairs of guide grooves 495 on each top extension anddiametrally opposed pairs of ribs 496 on each push button are provided.Also in the preferred embodiment shown, the two pairs of guide grooves495 on the top extensions 411 and 412 are coplanar, and hence lie on thecommon central plane of the top extensions 411 and 412 and inverted tub401.

To the extent above described, the push buttons 491 and 492 arepreferably identical. However, the front (irrigation liquid) push button491 is additionally provided with a switch actuating leg 500 preferablymolded in the outer surface of its side wall. Such actuating leg 500extends down the height of the push button 491 and thence downwardbeyond the bottom edge of the push button 491 in the manner shown inFIG. 63. At least the dependent portion of the switch actuating leg 500is of constant cross section and is shaped and sized and locatedcircumferentially of the front push button 491 to be smoothly verticallyreciprocatingly received down into the cross head portion of theT-shaped hole 422 (FIG. 68) in the top wall 410 of the inverted tub 401.As seen in FIGS. 68 and 77, the T-shaped hole 422 and switch actuatorleg 500 are offset slightly sideways from the common central plane ofthe top extensions 411 (marked by the corresponding section line in FIG.68).

In the embodiment shown, the depending portion of the switch actuatingleg 500 is conveniently of U-shaped cross section as seen in FIG. 77.

Fixed, preferably integrally, to the bottom portion of the leg 500 andprotruding rearwardly therefrom is a switch contact separating ridge501. The hole 422 continues as a shallow downwardly extending groove 502in the portion of the forward valve barrel 402 facing into the interiorof the inverted tub 401. As seen in FIG. 73, such groove 502 helps guidelongitudinal reciprocation of the switch actuator leg 500 inside theinverted tub 401.

An electrical switch like that indicated schematically at SW in FIG. 22of the prior embodiment is provided for actuation to energize a pumpmotor like that shown on at M in above FIG. 22 from batteries such asindicated at B therein. In the present FIG. 61 embodiment, such switchSW comprises a pair of switch elements 510 and 511 (FIGS. 63, 79, 80 and72C) of electrically conductive springy sheet metal, such as copper or asuitable alloy.

The switch element 510 (FIG. 80) comprises a base plate 512 providedwith gripper tabs 513 acutely angled with respect thereto. The switchelement 510 further includes an electric connector terminal 514 and aswitch contact leaf 515. The switch element 511 is of somewhat differentshape, but includes a base plate 520 (FIG. 79) including gripper tabs521 acutely angled with respect thereto, and an electric connectorterminal 522 and switch contact leaf 523 extending therefrom.

The switch element 510 is fixed in the interior of the inverted tub 401as follows. The base plate 512 is slidably inserted upward in theorientation of FIG. 63 into the switch mounting gap 421 (FIGS. 72C andE) between the depending switch carrier plates 414. The gripping tabs513 enter and become jammed in the switch mounting gap 421 to preventthe switch element 510 from accidently leaving its operative position ofFIGS. 72C and E, within the inverted tub 401. This leaves the electricalconnector terminal 514 and switch contact leaf 515 outside the switchmounting gap 421. The electrical connection terminal 514 lies betweenthe outboard switch carrier plate 414 and the side wall 403 of theinverted tub 401. The switch contact leaf 515 is resiliently self-urgedtoward the switch carrier plates 413 as more fully discussed hereafter.

The base plate 520 of the switch element 511 is inserted upward into theswitch mounting gap 420 (FIGS. 72C and E) and is frictionally fixedtherein by engagement of the gripping tabs 521 with the opposed inboardswitch carrier plate 413. The electrical connector terminal 522 isdisposed between the outboard switch carrier plate 413 and the invertedtub side wall 404 adjacent the bottom of the outboard side wall 413. Theswitch contact leaf 523 extends upward along the outboard switch carrierplate 413 within the switch mounting gap 420 and into electrical contactwith the switch contact leaf 515 of the switch element 510 to completean electrical connection between the two switch elements 510 and 511.

Wires 103 of cable 27 (FIG. 22) from the pump motor M are indicated at103D in FIG. 72C and are lead into the inverted tub 401 through anopening 524 (FIG. 61) in the top wall 410 of the inverted tub 401. Thewires 103D, suitably insulated, terminate within the inverted tub 401 inconventional connectors 525 compatible with the electrical connectorterminals 514 and 522, respectively. In the preferred embodiment shown,the connectors 525 are of resilient female type telescopingly fixable onthe electrical connector terminals 514 and 522. In this way, the FIG.72C electrical contact between the leaf 515 and leaf 523 acts as aswitch SWD (FIG. 72C) usable in place of the switch SW (FIG. 22) andwhich upon closure energizes the motor M from the battery B.

The thus established electrical contact between switch contact leaves515 and 523 is permitted with the switch leaf separator 501 presseddown, by pushing downward the corresponding button 591 to its lowermostposition (from its upper position in FIGS. 66, 72C and 72E. Upon manualrelease of the push button 591, it is raised by spring 490 to its upperposition shown in FIG. 61, thereby raising the switch leaf separatorridge 501 to its dotted line position in FIGS. 72D, E, thereby pushingthe switch contact leaf 515 out of contact with the leaf 523 and intoits dotted line position shown at 515′ and opening the switch to aposition like that of the switch SW FIG. 22, thereby disabling the pumpmotor M. Note that the inboard switch carrier plate 413 is recessed at526, in the upper portion of its edge facing the vertically shiftableswitch actuating leg 500, to provide room for up and down motion of theswitch leaf separator ridge 501.

The handpiece 26D (FIG. 63) may be assembled as follows. The assembledvalve members 460 and 461 (including elements 470-477, 482 and 490) areinserted up into the open bottoms of the respective front and rear valvebarrels 402 and 403 and temporarily held in place therein by anyconvenient means not shown. The push buttons 491 and 492 are then fixedatop the upward protruding valve pistons 470 by any convenient means, asshown with respect to valve push button 491 and FIG. 66, for example.

The slide on connectors 525 (FIG. 72C) then fixed on the electricconnector terminals 514 and 522 of the corresponding switch elements 510and 511 (FIGS. 72C and E).

The free ends of the insulator wires 103D are lead up into the centralportion of the downward opening cavity 415 of the inverted tub 401 andup through the opening 524 (FIG. 63) and the top wall 410 of theinverted tub 401 and extend therefrom toward the remote pressure liquidunit, like the insulated wires 103 from the handpiece 26 of FIGS. 1 and22, for connection to the motor M and battery B in the manner of FIG.22.

The forward (irrigation liquid) push button 491 is then preferablypushed down (to its valve open position) to position the switch leafseparation ridge 501 in its lowest position, shown for example in FIGS.72D-E. With the switch contact leaf 515 bent more closely toward itscorresponding base plate 512, to clear the switch carrier plates 413(for example to the position 515″ shown in chain line in FIGS. 72-73),the switch element 510 can be slid upward into its installed position inthe inverted tub 401, with its base plate 512 and gripping tabs 513trapped in the switch mounting gap 421 between the switch carrier plates414. The free upper end of the switch contact leaf 515 slides on pastthe pad 527 and downwardly positioned switch leaf separator ridge 501whereafter the switch contact leaf 515 can be released to resilientlybend away from the switch carrier plates 414 into substantially itssolid line position shown in FIG. 72E. Similarly, the switch element 511can be installed by inserting its base plate 520, gripping tabs 521 andswitch contact leaf 523 upward into the switch mounting gap 420 betweenthe switch carrier plates 413, to its FIG. 72E installed position, withits switch contact leaf 523 extending up past and being electricallyconductively and forcibly pressed against by the upstanding free end ofthe switch contact leaf 515, as shown in FIG. 72E.

With the valve members 460 and 461 and switch elements 510 and 511 thusinstalled within the inverted tub 401, the bottom plugs 483 can then befixed in place (in the manner above described with respect to FIGS. 66and 67) to close bottom of the shell 400. The irrigation liquid andsuction tubes 23D and 33D can then be fixedly telescoped over thenipples 450 and 451 respectively of the handpiece 26D to thereby, asschematically indicated in FIG. 70, connect the nipples 450 and 451 tothe irrigation liquid pump 11D and suction source SS.

A hollow suction/irrigation tip TPD of any conventional type may befixed, sealingly, to the front end portion 431 of conduit 430 (as inFIG. 61). The rear end of the conduit 430 can be closed by means such asthe closure plug 440.

Pushing down the suction button 492 opens the connection from thesuction nipple 451 (and hence suction source SS) to the conduit 430 andtip TPD and thereby to a surgical site into which the tip TPD may beinserted for suction of loose material from a surgical site to thehandpiece 26D back to the suction source SS. Further depression of thesuction push button 492 progressively opens the suction path between theinterior of the conduit 430 and suction nipple 451, by bringing thevalve diametral fluid hole 471 into progressively more completecommunication with the interiors of the suction nipple 451 and conduit430, the fully opened position of the suction valve member 461 beingshown in FIG. 67. Release of manual pressure atop the suction pushbutton 492 allows the spring 490 to urge the suction valve member 461from its FIG. 67 open position upward to a closed position comparable tothat of the valve member 470 in FIG. 66.

In substantially the same way pushing down the irrigation liquid pushbutton 492 from its upper, closed position of FIGS. 66 and 67progressively opens the irrigation liquid valve. A full depression ofthe irrigation liquid push button 491 fully opens the irrigation liquidflow path between the irrigation liquid nipple 450 and conduit 430. Inaddition, the irrigation liquid valve member 460 and push button 491 intheir closed, upper position shown in FIG. 66, locate the switch leafseparator ridge 501 in its upper, dotted line position at 501′ in FIGS.72D and E, so as to separate the switch leaf 515 and 523 and preventenergization of the pump motor M (FIG. 22) from the battery B. However,when the irrigation liquid push button 491 is pushed downward itdownwardly displaces the corresponding irrigation liquid valve member470 to progressively open the irrigation liquid path from nipple 450 toconduit 430 and tip TPD, and also downwardly shifts the switch leafseparator ridge 501 from its dotted line position 501′ to a solid lineposition (at the bottom of its travel) shown in solid line FIGS. 72D-E,thereby allowing the springy switch contact leaf 515 to resiliently benditself forcibly into electrically conductive contact with the fixedswitch contact leaf 523, as shown in FIGS. 72C and E, to thereby closethe switch SWD and provide an electric current path therethrough toenergize the pump motor M from the battery B in the manner shown in FIG.22.

As the irrigation path through the irrigation liquid valve member 470starts to open, the switch SWD turns on the pump motor to supply liquidto the valve member 470.

The diametral fluid hole 471 in each valve piston 470 is preferablyslightly widened lengthwise of the valve member (vertically in FIG. 63),to maximize flow through the hole 471 in the open position of the valve,by keeping the flow path through the piston 470 fully open, despite theaxial stack-up of tolerances in each valve unit 460, 491 and 461, 495.In one unit constructed according to the invention, the minimum andmaximum diameters of each diametral fluid hole 471 were 0.190 inch and0.220 inch respectively, the greater diameter of the hole 471 thus beingabout 15% greater than the minimum diameter of thereof. See for example,FIG. 65.

The conduit 430 and any desired tip TPD thus preferably are used forboth suction and irrigation liquid flow.

All the parts of the apparatus above described are preferably molded,substantially rigid, plastics material of conventional type, except asotherwise described, e.g. the switch elements 510 and 511 ofelectrically conductive springy metal and the annular seals 473 and 482and 486 of conventional resilient rubber-like material and the wires103D and connectors 525.

Instead of the closure plug 440 (FIG. 63) the rear end portion 432 ofthe conduit 430 can instead be advantageously equipped with a one piece,molded, resilient, rubber-like cap unit 530 (FIG. 81). The cap unit 530comprises a cup like body 531, opening forwardly (leftwardly in FIGS. 81and 82), and which comprises a bottom wall 532 and cylindrical side wall533 extending forward therefrom. The cap unit is sized to slideforwardly and telescopingly over the enlarged diameter rear end portion432 of the conduit 430 to close the rear end thereof. The forward openend of the cap unit includes a semi-circular cross section radiallyinward projecting lip 534 sized to project radially inward slightly withrespect to the outside diameter of the enlarged rear end portion 432 ofthe conduit 430 and to be positioned slightly forward thereof to preventunintentional rearward removal of the cup unit from the conduit 430.However, the resilience of and inside diameter of the lip 534 allows itto stretch slightly diametrally to permit resilient snap fitinstallation and removal of the cap unit with respect to its FIG. 82position covering the enlarged rear end portion 432 of the conduit 430.An integral elongate flexible strap 540 extends outward substantiallyradially from the lipped front end of the cap unit and adjacent itsouter end carries a resiliently stretchy loop 541. The strap 540 andloop 541 may be referred to as the “lasso”. Prior to sliding the capunit onto the enlarged rear end portion 432 of the handpiece conduit430, the strap 540 is bent and the loop 541 of the lasso is pulledforwardly snugly over the enlarged rear end portion 432 of the conduit430, slightly circumferentially stretching the loop 541, in the process,until the loop 541 reaches the portion of the conduit 430 head of theenlarged rear end portion 432 thereof. In this way, the lasso maintainsthe cap unit captively tied to the rear end portion of the handpiececonduit 430 should the user wish to completely open the rear end of theconduit 430 by removing the cap unit, namely by sliding the cap unitrearwardly off the enlarged rear end portion 432 of the conduit 430.Thus, the cap unit cannot be lost or misplaced but rather remainsconveniently at hand for later telescoping onto the rear end portion ofthe conduit 430. Sizing the internal diameter of the loop 541 slightlysmaller than the external diameter of the enlarged rear end portion 432of the conduit 430 assures that the loop 541 will not accidentally falloff the rear end portion of the conduit 430. Axial room is providedbetween the enlarged rear end portion 432 of the conduit 430 and theinverted tub 401 of the handpiece to accommodate both the loop 541 andthe lip 534 of the cup like body 531.

A coaxial column 544 projects integrally from the rear end wall of thecup like body 531, preferably more than half the depth of the cup likebody 531, with an annular space radially between the outside of thecolumn 544 and inside of the side wall of the cup like body 531. Thecolumn 544 has a smooth cylindrical periphery of diameter to interfereslightly with the internal threads of the enlarged rear end portion 432of the conduit 430 such that the column 544 is a friction fit within theenlarged rear end portion 432 of conduit 430, tending to hold thecup-like body 531 firmly fixed with respect thereto against accidentalremoval and yet allow the user to pull the cup-like body 531 off therear end of the handpiece conduit 430 at will. Note that the column 544does not thread into or unthread from the internal threads 436 of theconduit rear end portion 432 but simply frictionally slides axially intoand out of contact therewith, thereby eliminating any need to rotate thecap unit 530 when installing on or removing same from the rear end ofthe conduit 430.

The friction engagement between the threaded interior of the conduitrear end portion 432 and the column 544, in addition to frictionallyholding the cup-like body 531 fixed against accidental removal from therear end portion of the conduit 430, also creates an axial fluid sealtherebetween to prevent leakage of fluid rearwardly out of the interiorof the conduit 430. Thus, as shown in FIG. 82, the column 544 in effectplugs the rear end of the conduit 430 to prevent liquid leakagetherefrom.

The axially innermost end of the column 544 is relatively thin walled asindicated at 556 so that fluid pressure inside the conduit 430 tends topress radially outward on the thin resilient wall 556 to assist thefluid seal radially between the outside of the column 544 and the insideof the rear end portion of the conduit 430.

The interior of the column 544 has front and rear forwardly andrearwardly diverging coaxial frustoconical coaxial recesses 545 and 546(FIG. 82) normally sealed from each other by an axially thin integraldiaphragm 547.

The intact diaphragm 547 thus prevents fluid leakage from the conduit430 through the central portion of the plug like column 544. However,the relatively thin diaphragm 547 can be intentionally pierced bypushing forward therethrough of a suitable relatively small diametersurgical tool (not shown), for example a laser probe, and in particulara surgical tool whose outside diameter is less than that of thediaphragm 547. The tapered recesses 546 and 545 in the column 544 helpto guide the axial movement of such a surgical tool forwardly into andrearwardly out of the rear end of the column. The diaphragm 547, havingbeen pierced by such a surgical tool, tends to at least partially sealaround such surgical tool, when the latter is in place in the conduit430 for use at a surgical site in front of the handpiece, to at leastminimize liquid leakage rearwardly along the shank of such a surgicaltool (not shown) and rearwardly out of the cap unit 530.

After a surgical tool has pierced the diaphragm 547 and then beenwithdrawn after use, the pierced, and now empty, diaphragm 547 may tendto allow some fluid leakage from the conduit 430. To avoid fluid leakagerearwardly out of the cap unit 530 under such circumstances, the centralopening 550 in the bottom wall 532 of the cup-like body 531 isconfigured to be itself plugged against fluid leakage rearwardlytherethrough, as follows. More particularly, the cap unit 530 includes afurther integral strap 551 extending radially from the rear end portionthereof (here extending radially from the bottom wall 532, FIG. 82). Thestrap 551 is readily bendable from a relaxed radially extending positionshown in dotted lines in FIG. 82 to a bent intermediate position shownin solid lines in FIG. 82. The strap 551 carries, remote from thecup-like body 531, an integral stopper portion 552 including a plug 553adapted to be pushed forwardly into a correspondingly shaped, rearwardlyopening, central opening 550 in the bottom wall 532 of the body 531 andwhich communicates axially with the rearward recess 546. The integralplug 553 includes a nose 554 tapered to facilitate insertion into thecentral opening 550. Such insertion is aided by tapering the rearwardopening mouth 555 of such central opening. The plug 553 is spaced fromthe stopper portion 552 of the strap 551 by a short radially undercutneck 560. The central opening 550 in the bottom wall 532 is shaped tosnugly compliment the plug 553 and the plug 553 can thus be pushed intoa seated position within the opening 550 and can be pulled out of suchposition by the user with moderate axial force. The plug 553 wheninstalled in the opening 550 snugly seats therein in a manner to closeand seal the opening 550 against fluid leakage therethrough from theinterior of the conduit 430.

FIGS. 83 and 84 disclose an improvement on the FIG. 5 pump motor shaftseal arrangement. FIG. 84 shows the motor M with its upstanding shaft 72carrying the pump rotor, or impeller 117, in the pump chamber 113.

In the FIGS. 81, 82 modification, the FIG. 5 seal 74 is eliminated andis replaced with a new seal ring 570 (FIGS. 83 and 84) to be located ina widened, upward opening seal recess 571 (FIG. 84) located preferablybut not necessarily coaxially around the motor shaft 72 and atop thethus modified battery and motor locator 42D. The seal ring 570 isgenerally hat shaped, comprising an annular crown 572 having a flat top573, a downwardly divergent outer side wall 574 and a coaxial throughbore for sealingly receiving the rotating shaft 72. In the preferredembodiment shown, the upper part of the through bore is formed by a lipseal 575 which is radially inwardly convexly rounded and occupiesapproximately the top 40% of the through bore. The intermediate 40% ofthe height of the through bore is formed by a second lip seal 576 ofsimilar shape. The bottom portion of the through bore divergesdownwardly as indicated at 577 to form a bell-like bottom mouth 577. Asubstantially reduced thickness brim 580 extends radially outward fromthe bottom portion of the crown 572 and a thickened (here ofsubstantially upstanding circular cross section) perimeter lip 581coaxially bounds and is somewhat upstanding from the outer periphery ofthe substantially horizontal brim.

The seal recess 571 in the battery and motor locator 42D issubstantially axially deeper and radially wider than the seal ring 570,as seen in FIG. 84. The seal ring 570 is of resilient rubber-likematerial and receives coaxially upwardly through the central borethereof the rotatable motor shaft 72. The upper lip seal 575 bearssealingly on and surrounds the rotatable shaft 72 to prevent leakage ofliquid from the pumping chamber 113 downward along the shaft 72 intoneighborhood of the motor M. The convexly rounded profile of the lipseal 575 minimizes the axial height of contact between it and therotating shaft 72 to minimize frictional drag on the shaft and henceminimize waste of battery energy on friction, which battery energy ispreferably to be used instead for pumping liquid. Increased liquidpressure in the pumping chamber 113 results in increased pressure on thetop 573 and frustoconical outer side wall 574 of the crown 572, therebytending to in fact bend the central portion of the seal ring 570, ortilt same, inward and slightly downward toward the surface of therotating shaft 72 generally in the direction of the arrow AR. Theresulting increased pressure of the upper lip seal 575 on the shaft 72increases the tightening of sealing. Accordingly, the seal ring 570seals progressively more tightly against downward leakage of liquid fromthe pumping chamber 113 downwardly past the periphery of the shaft 72 asliquid pressure in the pumping chamber 113 rises. On the other hand,when pumping chamber pressure drops, the seal ring 570 less tightlygrips the rotating shaft 72 and hence reduces friction therebetween andresulting energy loss to such friction. Accordingly, the seal ring 570adapts to changing pressure conditions in the pumping chamber 113 tominimize energy loss to friction between itself and the rotating shaft72 while yet providing adequate sealing to prevent liquid leakagedownwardly therepast from pumping chamber 113, to thereby protect themotor and related components from wetting by the pumped liquid.

Liquid pressure in the pumping chamber 113 also helps keep the centralbody crown 272 of the seal ring 570 from moving axially upwardly towardthe impeller 117.

The perimeter of the seal ring 570 is positively held against the bottomof recess 571 by an annular hoop 582, preferably of rigid plasticmaterial, such as ABS, press fitted down into the recess 570 intocompressive contact with the top of the perimeter lip 581 of the sealring 570 in the manner shown in FIG. 84. The upstanding perimeter lip581, being of limited radial extent, thus localizes the downwardpressure of the hoop 582, which thus maximizes the downward pressure ofthe radially narrow perimeter portion of the seal ring 570 against theunderlying bottom of the recess 571, to provide a very effective sealagainst leakage of liquid from the pumping chamber 113, which liquidmight otherwise attempt to pass between the underside of the seal ring570 and the bottom of the recess 571, to thereby reach and draindownward along the lower portion of the rotating motor shaft 72, intocontact with the top of the casing of the motor M. In particular thenthe upstanding perimeter lip 581 of the seal ring 570 tends toconcentrate the force of its sealing against the bottom of the recess571 in a radially narrow annular area located immediately below theperimeter lip 581 and indicated at NA.

The axially thin but radially relatively wide brim 580 is relativelylimp and flexible and effectively resiliently isolates the shaft sealarea 575 from the recess bottom seal area 581, so that the shaftengaging lip seal 575 in effect floats radially with the shaft (shouldthere be any radial movement of it with respect to the battery and motorlocator 42) without influence by the sealing contact between theperimeter lip 581 and the hoop 582 and bottom of recess 571. Thus, thethin flexible brim 581 allows relative radial movement or misalignmentbetween the shaft seal 575 and recess bottom seal 581, to accommodateradial movement (vibration or otherwise) of the shaft 72 without loss ofsealing capability or frictional drag. Thus, sealing against liquidleakage past the seal ring 570 is independent of alignment between themotor shaft 72 and locator housing 42D.

In the preferred embodiment shown, the lower lip seal 576 similarlybears on the shaft 72 and acts as a back-up seal in case of unexpectedunusual failure of the upper lip seal 575.

FIG. 85 shows a modification of the FIG. 83, 84 seal ring, same beingmodified by elimination of the lower lip seal 575 of FIG. 83, so that inthe area below the upper lip seal 575B of the modified seal ring 570E,the central through bore 590 is radially recessed as indicated at 591 soas to be free of contact with the shaft 72. The modified seal ring 570Eis thus contemplated for use in situations wherein the operating life ofthe apparatus is to be shorter than in the FIG. 83, 84 apparatus, i.e.wherein the use of the apparatus will be completed before there isappreciable wear of the upper lip seal 575E and hence the likelihood ofwear damage that would make it desirable to have a back-up seal in theform of the lower lip seal 576 of FIGS. 83, 84.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed indetail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variationsor modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangementof parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A surgical irrigationsystem, comprising: a hand held handpiece comprising an inletconnectable to a remote irrigation liquid source, a substantiallystraight, hollow, open ended conduit having a front end for supplyingirrigation liquid to a surgical site and for directing surgical tools toa surgical site, said conduit having an open rear end for receivingsurgical tools to be directed through the length of said conduit to thefront end of said conduit, a housing fixedly locating said irrigationliquid inlet with respect to said conduit, a valve member longitudinallyreciprocably guided in said housing along an axis between positionsopening and closing communication between said irrigation liquid inletand an intermediate portion of said conduit, said inlet and conduithaving respective, substantially coplanar central longitudinal axes,said valve member's reciprocation axis extending transversely to saidinlet and conduit axes.
 2. A surgical irrigation system, comprising: ahand held handpiece comprising an inlet connectable to a remoteirrigation liquid source, a substantially straight, hollow, open endedconduit having a front end for supplying irrigation liquid to a surgicalsite and for directing surgical tools to a surgical site, said conduithaving an open rear end for receiving surgical tools to be directedthrough the length of said conduit to the front end of said conduit, ahousing fixedly locating said irrigation liquid inlet with respect tosaid conduit, a valve member guided in said housing for opening andclosing a connection between said irrigation liquid inlet and anintermediate portion of said conduit, said inlet and conduit havingrespective, longitudinal central axes, said valve member extendingtransversely to at least one of said axes, said inlet and conduitlongitudinal central axes being substantially coplanar, said inletopening to the interior of said conduit, in which said valve membercomprises an elongate cylindrical portion, said valve member beingreciprocable in said housing in the length direction of said cylindricalportion, said cylindrical portion having a fluid flow hole transverselytherethrough, said valve member having a closed position blocking fluidflow from said inlet to said conduit wherein said hole is out of theplane of said inlet and conduit longitudinal central axes, said valvemember having an open position in which said hole contains the plane ofthe central longitudinal axes of said inlet and conduit and provides anobstructionless flowpath from said inlet to said conduit.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2 in which said hole in said valve member issubstantially circular in cross-section.
 4. A surgical irrigationsystem, comprising: a non-symmetric hand held handpiece having a shellincluding a substantially straight hollow open ended conduit with afront end for supplying irrigation liquid to a surgical site and fordirecting surgical tools to a surgical site, said conduit having an openrear end for receiving surgical tools to be directed to the length ofsaid conduit to the front end of said conduit, said shell includingparallel spaced side-by-side front and rear valve barrels, said conduitextending transversely past said valve barrels and communicatingtherewith, said shell including suction and irrigation nipples extendingfrom respective ones of said valve barrels rearwardly at a relativelysharp acute angle with respect to said elongate conduit, said nipplesextending rearwardly beyond the rearward one of said valve barrels andlying close adjacent the rearward part of said conduit, valve membersreciprocable along said valve barrels and having respective manuallyactuatable push buttons protruding from said shell, said nipples havingmeans for connection to a remote irrigation liquid source and suctionsource respectively, said shell and push buttons being manuallygraspable by the hand of a user, with said nipples and a rear endportion of said conduit all being directed rearward from the grasp ofthe user's hand so as not to interfere with that hand's firm gripping ofsaid shell and actuation of said push buttons.
 5. The apparatus of claim4 including an electric switch in said shell and insulated electricwires extending from said switch rearwardly out of said shellsubstantially in parallel with said nipples.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5including means connecting the front nipple to an irrigation liquidsource and the rear nipple to a suction source, said front valve memberbeing shiftable to supply irrigation liquid from said front nipplethrough said front valve barrel to said conduit and thence to a surgicalsite, means fixed on said front push button and extending slidably intosaid shell beside the front valve barrel and having an interior portionengageable with said switch to permit electric current flow through saidswitch upon opening irrigation liquid flow from said front nipplethrough said front valve member to said conduit and therefrom to asurgical site.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said nipples andconduit have length axes, the length axes of said nipples beingsubstantially coplanar with the length axis of said conduit.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 4 in which said conduit has an externally threadedfront end and an internally threaded rear end.
 9. A surgical irrigatorsystem, comprising: a handpiece for applying irrigation liquid to asurgical site; a motor/pump unit connectible to said handpiece andcomprising a rotatable shaft, a pumping chamber having a floor, a roofspaced above said floor and a peripheral wall generally upstandingbetween said floor and roof, said pumping chamber having a liquid inletsubstantially coaxial with said shaft and opening into said pumpingchamber through said roof, said pumping chamber having a pumped liquidoutlet extending substantially tangentially through said peripheralwall; said motor/pump unit also having an impeller in said pumpingchamber, said impeller comprising a disk-like base fixed on said shaftand having a raised central portion substantially coaxial with andraised toward said inlet, said disk-like base further having an annularportion sloping radially outward from said raised central portion andaxially away from said inlet, said impeller further comprising pluralcircumferentially spaced fluid pumping blades upstanding from saidsloping annular portion of said base, said blades being spaced from therotational axis of said impeller and leaving a central well open upwardfrom said raised central portion of said base and toward said inlet,said blades being of cross sectional shape generally like an airplanewing in which each blade includes an upstanding radially inner edgewhich is in cross section convexly rounded and relatively blunt andfaces said central well, each blade further including an upstandingradially outer edge which is in cross section relatively sharp and facesthe perimeter of said pumping chamber, each said blade having a top edgesloped radially outward and downward away from said roof substantiallyparallel to said sloping annular portion of said base, each said bladehaving an upstanding convexly curved first side extending from saidblunt radially inner edge to said sharp outer edge and positionableduring rotation of said impeller to face toward said outlet.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 9 in which each blade has a concavely curved secondside facing away from said first side, said sharp radially outer edge ofa given said blade being circumferentially offset with respect to saidblunt radially inner edge of said given blade.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 9 in which said impeller is spaced from said floor, roof andperimeter wall of said pumping chamber.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9including a housing remote from said handpiece and containing saidmotor/pump unit, at least one battery in said housing adjacent saidmotor/pump unit for energizing said motor.
 13. A surgical irrigationsystem, comprising: means engageable with a surgical site for applyingirrigation liquid under pressure thereto; a motor/pump unit remote fromsaid surgical site engaging means and energizable for pressurizing andsupplying irrigation liquid under pressure thereto; means including abattery actuable for supplying energy to said motor/pump unit; saidmotor/pump unit comprising an irrigation liquid pump including a pumpingchamber connectable to a source of irrigation liquid for pumpingirrigation to said surgical site engaging means, said pump comprising animpeller moveable in said pumping chamber and fixed on a rotatableshaft, said motor/pump unit further comprising a motor energizable fromsaid battery for rotating said shaft and means for housing said motor ina motor chamber adjacent said pumping chamber, said motor/pump unitfurther comprising a wall between said pumping chamber and motor chamberand having an opening through which said shaft extends, a resilientgenerally hat-shaped seal ring in said pumping chamber and backed bysaid wall, said seal ring comprising a hole through which said shaftextends, said seal ring hole having a minor length thereof comprising anannular, radially inward facing, convex lip, said convex lip beingsealingly and snugly and rotatably engaged by said shaft substantiallyin annular line contact therewith, said seal ring comprising anupstanding central crown through which said hole extends and whichcarries said lip near its top, said crown having an outer surface facinggenerally axially and radially outward into said pumping chamber andresponsive to irrigation liquid pressure in said pumping chamber foreffectively tilting the cross section of said crown radially inward topress said lip more tightly against said shaft in response to anincrease in pumping chamber pressure.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 inwhich said hat-shaped seal ring includes a perimeter axially enlarged toform an annular perimeter lip radially spaced from said crown, annularmeans opposing said wall for axially compressively sandwiching saidperimeter lip therebetween and therewith establishing substantially anannular line contact seal against liquid leakage between said seal ringand wall.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 in which the hat-shaped sealring includes a brim radially connecting said crown to said perimeterlip, said brim being axially substantially thinner than said perimeterlip and crown and thereby sufficiently flexible as to allow said crownto shift eccentrically with respect to said perimeter lip in response toradial eccentric movement of said shaft as it rotates.
 16. The apparatusof claim 13 including a second radially inward facing convex lip axiallybelow said first mentioned lip in said seal ring hole to serve as abackup shaft seal in case of excessive wear of said first mentionedradially inward facing convex lip.
 17. The apparatus of claim 13 inwhich said seal ring hole has a radially flaring recess opening axiallytoward said wall and away from said inward facing lip and spacedradially from said shaft so that the bottom edge portion of the part ofthe seal ring bounding said recess effectively bends hinge-like tofacilitate radially inward tilting of said crown cross-section inresponse to increased pumping chamber pressure.
 18. The apparatus ofclaim 13 in which said wall is wider than said seal ring so that theseal ring is free to be displaced along said wall to the extent requiredto accomodate eccentric mislocation of said shaft during assembly. 19.The apparatus of claim 4 in which the forward/rearward location of saidpush buttons on said shell corresponds to the forward/rearward directionof fluid movement in said conduit controlled by such push buttons,namely wherein said front and rear valve barrels communicate with saidirrigation liquid and suction nipples respectively, and actuation ofsaid front push button forwards irrigation liquid through said conduitand actuation of said rear push button suctions material from a surgicalsite rearward through said conduit to said suction nipple.
 20. Asurgical irrigation system, comprising: a handpiece having an elongatevalve member longitudinally movable in a valve bore, a fluid flow nippleand an elongate conduit both open to a tapered portion of said valvebore, said valve member having a transverse flow hole therethrough andbeing locatable in an open position in said tapered portion of saidvalve bore to provide a fluid flow connection between said fluid nippleand conduit through said flow hole, said valve member having a resilientseal member adjacent said flow hole and tapered towards said flow hole,said valve member being alternatively locatable in a closed position insaid tapered portion of said valve bore to block flow by interposingsaid seal member between said nipple and conduit.
 21. The apparatus ofclaim 20 in which said handpiece comprises a shell including a throughpassage providing said fluid flow connection connecting said nipple tosaid conduit, said valve bore transversely intercepting said throughpassage and being spaced therealong from said nipple and conduit. 22.The apparatus of claim 21 in which said nipple is connectable to aconventional elevated irrigation liquid bag so as to be at a pressureexceeding atmospheric pressure, said conduit being at atmosphericpressure and thereby establishing a pressure drop transversely acrosssaid seal member from said nipple toward said conduit to further urgesaid valve member against said shell around the portion of said throughpassage leading to said conduit.
 23. The apparatus of claim 21 in whichsaid nipple is connectable to a conventional surgical room suctionsource so as to be at a pressure less than atmospheric pressure, saidconduit being at atmospheric pressure and establishing a pressure droptransversely across the said seal member from said conduit toward saidnipple to further urge said valve member against said shell around theportion of said through passage leading to said nipple.
 24. A surgicalirrigation system suitable for endoscopic and other surgical procedures,comprising: a hand held handpiece for supplying irrigation liquid to asurgical site; a self contained pumping unit locatable adjacent a sourceof irrigation liquid and remote from said handpiece, said pumping unitcomprising a housing containing an irrigation liquid outlet, a pumpingmember for pumping irrigation liquid through said outlet, a motor fordriving said pumping member, and an electric battery for energizing saidmotor; an elongate tube connecting said housing outlet to said handpiecefor supplying pumped irrigation liquid to said handpiece, said pumpingunit housing comprising an open topped cup and a deck overlying the opentop of the cup, said motor having a shaft protruding up through a holein the deck and facing into a pumping chamber defined between said deckand an overlying cover, a cable running from said pumping unit to saidhandpiece, said motor and battery being connected to said cable, saidhandpiece including a switch connected to said cable for energizing saidmotor from said battery upon actuation of said switch.
 25. The apparatusof claim 24 in which said irrigation liquid tube and cable extend inclose side-by-side relation between said pumping unit and handpiece,said pumping outlet being on said cover.
 26. A surgical irrigationsystem suitable for endoscopic and other surgical procedures,comprising; a hand held handpiece having a forward protruding hollow tifor supplying irrigation liquid to a surgical site, a hand actuablecontrol controlling irrigation liquid flow to said tip, and anirrigation liquid inlet; a self contained irrigation liquid supply unitlocatable adjacent a source of irrigation liquid and remote from saidhandpiece and connected to said inlet, said irrigation liquid supplyunit comprising (1) a liquid pumping member and (2) a motor energizablefor driving said pumping member and (3) an electric battery source, saidhand actuable control on said handpiece comprising a switch and a handactuable member and a first valve responsive to movement of said handactuable member for opening irrigation liquid flow through an irrigationliquid path in said handpiece from said inlet to said tip, said handactuable member being operatively connected to said switch and valve forsubstantially simultaneously opening said first valve to flow irrigationliquid through said handpiece and energizing said motor by current fromsaid electric source, in which said handpiece includes a suction paththerein for connection to an external suction source and connected tosaid tip, said control including a second valve for opening and closingsaid suction path through said handpiece, in which said first valve hasan actuated state which (1) opens said irrigation liquid flow throughsaid handpiece and (2) energizes said motor, and said first valve has adeactuated state which (1) closes said irrigation liquid flow and (2)shuts off said motor, wherein said first valve comprises an elongatevalve barrel, an elongate valve member axially shiftable in said barrel,an elongate switch actuator member extending beside and axiallyshiftable along the outside of said barrel.
 27. A surgical irrigationsystem suitable for endoscopic and other surgical procedures,comprising: a hand held handpiece for supplying irrigation liquid to asurgical site; a self contained pumping unit locatable adjacent a sourceof irrigation liquid and remote from said handpiece, said pumping unitcomprising a housing containing an irrigation liquid outlet, a pumpingmember for pumping irrigation liquid through said outlet, a motor fordriving said pumping member, and an electric battery for energizing saidmotor; an elongate tube connecting from said pumping outlet to saidhandpiece for supplying pumped irrigation liquid to said handpiece, saidpumping unit housing comprising an open topped cup, a deck overlying theopen top of the cup and a member coaxially depending from said deck intosaid cup, said depending member receiving said motor, said motor havinga shaft protruding up through a hole in the deck and facing into apumping chamber defined between said deck and a cover overlying thedeck.
 28. The apparatus of claim 27 in which said depending memberincludes generally axially extending radially outward reaching finscircumferentially spaced by generally axially extending, radiallyoutwardly opening grooves, said grooves and fins being on opposite sidesof said motor recess, said battery comprising plural batteries, saidbatteries lying between said fins and radially outboard of said motorrecess.
 29. The apparatus of claim 28 including electric batterycontacts in a bottom portion of said cup, and electric connectionsthrough the bottom of said cup for interconnecting said battery andmotor.
 30. The apparatus of claim 27 including an impeller between saiddeck and said cover and fixed for rotation with said motor shaft, aliquid inlet spike at the top of said cover for connection to aconventional irrigation liquid supply, and said pumped irrigation liquidoutlet extending through the side of said cover, said tube running fromsaid cover outlet to said handpiece for supplying irrigation liquid in apumped manner from said pumping chamber to said handpiece.
 31. Theapparatus of claim 27 in which said deck is sandwiched between saidcover and cup.
 32. The apparatus of claim 27 in which said deck has anupstanding, substantially cylindrical plug coaxial with said motor shaftand through which said motor shaft extends upward into said pumpingchamber, said cover having a dome forming said pumping chamber, saiddome having a recess extending down from said chamber and closely andsealingly receiving said plug, said cover having a radially outwardflange at the bottom of said recess, said flange closely overlying saiddeck and fixedly attaching thereto.
 33. An endoscopic surgicalirrigation system connectable to a conventional independent irrigationliquid supply container, said system comprising: a handpiece fordirecting irrigation liquid to a surgical site; a self-contained,compact, reservoirless pumping unit locatable remotely from thehandpiece and surgical site, an elongate irrigation liquid tubeconnecting said pumping unit to said handpiece for delivery of pumpedirrigation liquid from said pumping unit to said handpiece, said pumpingunit comprising a battery operated motor, a pumping member connected tosaid motor for pumping irrigation liquid into said elongate tube andthrough said elongate tube to said handpiece, a cover enclosing apumping chamber occupied by said pumping member and having an outletconnected to said elongate tube, said cover further including an inletin the form of an elongate, hollow, generally tubular spike configuredfor sealed insertion into an outlet fitting pendent from an independentconventional irrigation liquid supply container to (1) receiveirrigation liquid from a liquid supply container and (2) directirrigation liquid into said pumping chamber and (3) gravitationally andsubstantially instantaneously prime said pumping chamber upon connectionto an irrigation liquid supply container, in which the distal end ofsaid hollow spike is angled.
 34. The apparatus of claim 33 including aconventional irrigation liquid supply container having a fitting forfixed reception of at least a distal portion of said hollow spike onsaid pumping unit.
 35. A surgical irrigation system, comprising: amember engageable with a surgical site for supplying irrigation liquidunder pressure thereto; a motor/pump unit remote from said surgical siteengaging member and energizable for pressurizing and supplyingirrigation liquid under pressure thereto; a battery actuable forsupplying energy to said motor/pump unit; said motor/pump unitcomprising an irrigation liquid pump including a pumping chamberconnectable to a source of irrigation liquid for pumping irrigationliquid to said surgical site engaging member, said pump comprising animpeller moveable in said pumping chamber and fixed on a rotatableshaft, said motor/pump unit further comprising a motor energizable fromsaid battery for rotating said shaft, a motor chamber adjacent saidpumping chamber and housing said motor, said motor pump unit furthercomprising a wall between said pumping chamber and motor chamber andhaving an opening through which said shaft extends, a resilient sealring in said pumping chamber and backed by said wall, said seal ringcomprising a hole through which said shaft extends, said seal ring holehaving a minor length thereof comprising an annular, radially inwardfacing, convex lip, said convex lip being sealingly and snugly androtatably engaged by said shaft substantially in annular line contacttherewith, said seal ring comprising an axially relatively thick centralportion through which said hole extends and which carries said lip nearits top, said central portion having an outer surface facing generallyaxially and radially outward into said pumping chamber and responsive toirrigation liquid pressure in said pumping chamber for effectivelytilting the cross section of said central portion radially inward topress said lip more tightly against said shaft in response to anincrease in pumping chamber pressure, said seal ring including a brimextending radially outward from said central portion and a perimeterportion bounding said brim, said brim being axially substantiallythinner than said central portion and thereby sufficiently flexible asto allow said central portion to shift with respect to said perimeterportion in response to eccentric movement of said shaft as it rotates.36. The apparatus of claim 35 in which said seal ring perimeter portionis axially enlarged to form an annular perimeter lip radially spacedfrom said central portion, an annular member opposing said wall andaxially sandwiching said perimeter lip therebetween and therewithestablishing substantially an annular line contact seal against liquidleakage between said seal ring and wall, said brim being axially thinnerthan said lip.
 37. The apparatus of claim 35 including a second annular,radially inward facing, convex lip axially below said first mentionedlip in said seal ring hole to serve as a second shaft seal.
 38. Theapparatus of claim 35 in which said wall is wider than said seal ring sothat the seal ring is free to be displaced along said wall to the extentrequired to accommodate eccentric mislocation of said motor shaft duringassembly.
 39. The apparatus of claim 35 in which said seal ring isgenerally hat-shaped and has a crown defined by said relatively thickcentral portion.
 40. A surgical irrigation system for endoscopic andother surgical procedures comprising: a hand held handpiece having aforwardly protruding hollow tip for supplying irrigation liquid to asurgical site, said handpiece comprising an elongate valve barrel, anelongate rigid conduit on one side of and extending skewed to said valvebarrel, said conduit having an axial throughpassage extending past, andin communication with, one portion of said valve barrel, a fitting onanother side of said valve barrel and having a throughpassagesubstantially perpendicular to said valve barrel and in communicationwith another portion of said valve barrel, a valve member axiallyshiftable in said valve barrel in skewed relation to said conduit from aclosed position blocking flow between said valve barrel portions to anopen position opening flow between said valve barrel portions, anelongate switch actuator leg extending beside and substantially parallelto said valve barrel, said leg being axially movable with said valvemember substantially from said closed to said open positions, a pushbutton fixed at an end of said valve member and located to push saidvalve member and said actuator leg from said closed to said openpositions, a first switch contact fixed with respect to said valvebarrel, a second switch contact normally spaced from said first switchcontact and operatively connected with respect to said switch actuatorleg for electrically energizing said first switch contact with saidvalve member at least partly displaced toward its open position.
 41. Theapparatus of claim 40 in which said conduit, fitting and leg arecircumferentially spaced around said valve barrel.
 42. A surgicalirrigation system for endoscopic and other surgical procedures,comprising: a compact portable pump/motor/electric battery source unitcomprising a casing snugly surrounding a pump and a motor in drivingrelation with said pump, and an electric battery source in circuit withsaid motor and connectable for electrically driving said motor, saidcasing having a normally disconnected pump input connector proximatelyand releasably connectable to an output of a conventional independentirrigation liquid container; a handpiece engagable with a surgical sitefor supplying irrigation liquid thereof while remote from saidpump/motor/electric battery source unit; an elongate irrigation liquidhose and electric conductor connecting said handpiece to saidpump/motor/electric battery source unit, said handpiece having a valveopenable to route pumped irrigation liquid from said pump/motor/electricbattery source unit to a surgical site, said handpiece having a switchconnected in circuit with said electric conductor and electric batterysource unit and motor and actuable to energize said pump and therebypump irrigation liquid through said hose and handpiece.
 43. A surgicalirrigation system suitable for endoscopic and other surgical procedures,comprising; a hand held handpiece for supplying irrigation liquid to asurgical site; a self contained pumping unit locatable adjacent a sourceof irrigation liquid and remote from said handpiece, said pumping unitcomprising a housing containing an outlet for irrigation liquid, apumping member for pumping irrigation liquid through said outlet, amotor for driving said pumping member, and electric batteries forenergizing said motor; an elongate tube for connecting said pumpingoutlet to said handpiece for supplying pumped irrigation liquid to saidhandpiece, said pumping unit housing comprising an open topped cup, agenerally radially extending deck overlying the open top of the cup anda cover overlying said deck, said motor being fixed with respect to saiddeck, said motor underlying said deck, said motor and batteries beingdisposed in said cup, said batteries flanking said motor, said motorhaving a shaft protruding up through said deck and facing into a pumpingchamber defined between said deck and said cover.
 44. The apparatus ofclaim 43 in which said pumping unit housing comprises a locatorcoaxially received in the open top of said cup, said cover closing thetop of said locator, said locator comprising said deck overlying theopen top of the cup and a column coaxially depending from said deck intosaid cup, said column having a central recess for receiving said motor.